Pakistan announces Hockey Squad for Athens Olympics
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation Wednesday announced names of sixteen players who will participate in the Athens Olympic.

Muhammad Nadeem will lead the team.

The squad comprising Ahmed Alam, Salman Akbar, Sohail Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ali Raza, Ghazanfar Ali, Waseem Ahmed, Dilawar Hussain, Adnan Maqsood, Rehan Butt, Mudassir Ali Khan, Muhammad Nadeem (Captain), Kashif Jawwad, Muhammad Shabbir, Tariq Aziz and Shakeel Abbasi.

Muhammad Sarwar and Imran Khan will accompany with the team only for Spain tour.

The squad for Athens Olympic was finalised at a meeting held here at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by President PHF General Muhammad Aziz Khan.

Chairman National Selection Committee Akhtar Rasool, Brig (R) Musarrat Ullah Khan, Secretary General, Hassan Sardar, Member National Selection Committee, Roelant Oltmans, Chief Coach and Tahir Zaman, Assistant Coach, Pakistan Hockey Team also attended the meeting which unanimously selected the Olympic squad.

President, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) General Aziz Khan said here Tuesday that Pakistan hockey team is in good spirit and is capable to achieve desired results in the coming Athens Olympics.

He was speaking at a dinner reception, hosted by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in honour of Pakistan Senior Hockey Team.

“We are confident of our hockey team, if the team played with dedication, no matter, we’ll loose the match”, he said. He hoped that the players will show good performance with their potential and capabilities by putting in their efforts.

He said that Pakistan hockey team won World Cup in Rome and now our team is in a good form to win the Athens Olympics, adding that Athens is close to Rome, our hockey team will rewrite history in Athens.

Gen Aziz said that players are the actors of playground, referring it to the TV artist Behroz Sabzwari who was especially invited by PHF to encourage the players.

Speaking on the occasion, Behroz Sabzwari recalled the past glorious era of Pakistan hockey team, saying that our hockey team has immense potential and the whole nation is praying for the success of the team.●