Imran appointed hockey captain

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) selection committee has named fullback Muhammad Imran as captain of the Pakistan Hockey team, in absence of veteran Zeeshan Ashraf.

Imran, the former vice-captain, will lead an 18-member squad in the Azlan Shah Cup next month, in the absence of senior players like Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt, and Shakeel Abbasi. “I think the seniors are fatigued,” chief selector Hanif Khan told The Express Tribune, “when the senior players will be over with this period of theirs, they can make their place in the team by performing well in future camps.”

The selection committee and the chief coach Khwaja Junaid picked an unexpected 18-member line up for the tournament after observing the players in a one day trial. Khan thinks that the new players can replace the older ones if they perform well in the Azlan Shah Cup.