Pakistan Squad for Azlan Shah Cup Named
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee Friday named an 18-member squad for 8-nation Azlan Shah Cup being held at Kualalumpur (Malaysia) from June 18 to 25 with one newcomer Ihsanullah Khan in the line-up.

While inclusion of skipper Muhammad Saqlain and fellow half back Ghazanfar Ali is subject to fitness and Karachi forward Adnan Zakir was axed from the team, while Akhtar Ali and Saleem Khalid were recalled in the squad.

Team was named by Chairman Selection Committee Khalid Mahmood at the conclusion of two-day trials at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium. Selectors Hasan Sardar, Manzoor-ul-Hasan and Akhtar-ul-Islam and Chief Coach Asif Bawja were present on the occasion.

Mudassar Ali Khan will lead the team in case Saqlain fails to pass fitness test and next senior most player will be made vice-captain.

A couple a selectors will keep watching the fitness progress of Saqlain and Ghazanfar for another week.

Muhammad Javed will be inducted in the squad for Saqlain and Imran Khan Yousufzai come into the side for Ghazanfar if they fail to pass fitness test, Khalid Mahmood said.

Chief coach Asif Bajwa expressed his full confidence in the team and expressed the hope that boys will do their best in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Pakistan goal-keeper Nasir Ahmed and talented forward Yasir-ul-Islam have been promoted in group-V in PIA for their excellent showing, Chief Selector Khalid Mahmood told newsmen after announcing Pakistan team for Azlan Shah Cup.

He made the announcement on behalf of President, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Tariq Kirmani.He said PHF Chief informed him that they are also considering to hire the services of some five more players to strengthen the airlines team.

Pakistan squad is:

Goal-keepers: Salman Akber, Nasir Ahmed Full-backs: Muhammad Imran, Imran Ali Warsi, Ihsanullah Khan. Half-backs: Muhammad Saqlain/M.Javed, Ghazanafar/Imran khan, Dilawar Hussain, Adnan Maqsood, Sajjad Anwar. Forwards: Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali khan, Shakeel Abbasi, Saleem Khalid, Muhammad Shabbir, Akhtar Ali, Waqas Akber and Waqas Sharif. Standbyes: M.Zubair, Mustansar Shaikh, Naeem Akber, Yasir-ul-Islam, Shabbir Ahmed Khan.●