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Shafqat to
lead Junior hockey team in Malaysia
KARACHI—Forward Shafqat Rasool will lead an 18-member Pakistan junior
hockey team in the eight nation Hockey Championship to be held in Kuala
Lumpur (Malaysia) from January 17 to 27.
Team was named at the conclusion of two-day trials at Hockey Club of
Pakistan Stadium by Chief Selector Khawaja Zakauddin Khan on Thursday.
Selector Samiullah Khan and coopted-member Jehangir Butt were also
present on the occasion. Zakauddin said team was being released after
formal approval by President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Mir
Zafarullah Khan Jamali. He said best lot has been picked on the basis of
performance in the trials as well as the camp training and fitness
report. Former Pakistan Captain Zakauddin said six sessions of trials
were conducted before finalizing the squad. Three changes has been made
in the team from the teams which featured in four-nation competition
held in Singapore in November. Full-back Muhammad Ateeq has been dropped
and senior team member Kashif Ali was picked in his place.
While Fareed Ahmed came in place of Zeeshan in half line and forward
Rizwan Ahmed came in for Imran. “We would be facing toughest challenge
in Kuala Lumpur because of presence of European teams,” he said. “This
will be the first time boys will be facing European teams,” he added.
This will be Pakistan junior team’s third assignment after twin African
tour of Kenya and Egypt and four-nation event in Singapore. Forward
Inayatullah and Kashif Ali two members of the team who also represented
Pakistan seniors in last month’s Champions Trophy in Malaysia.
Commenting on the dropping of Ateeq and Abbas Haider, Zakauddin said
Ateeq was axed because of lack of form and camp report and Abbas was
being rested because of hectic upcoming schedule of senior team.
Eight standbys were also named which included Imran Shah, M.Khalid,
Aijaz Ahmed, Kashif Javed, Usman Tariq, Sibtain Raza, Imran Malik,
Zubair Junior and Azlan Khan which will continue their training.
Pakistan team will fly out to Malaysian capital on January 12 night to
take part in the championship.—Agencies |
