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PHF names 18-member squad: Zeeshan to lead Pakistan at Champions Challenge-I in Argentina

By Muhammad Ali

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday named an 18-member squad that will take part in the Champions Challenge-I Hockey Tournament to be held from December 6 to 13 in Salta, Argentina. The competition will be participated by eight teams divided into two pools. Pool A comprises of Belgium, China, India and New Zealand while Pakistan, hosts Argentina, South Africa and Canada are in Pool B. The announced outfit have two new faces in Umar Bhutta and Mohammad Rizwan who have replaced forwards Shafqat Rasool and Abbas Haider. The team was selected after one day trials held here at the National Hockey Stadium.

Addressing a news conference, chief selector Hassan Sardar said that the selection committee had given rest to Shafqat and Abbas because they lacked form and fitness. “Their places have been filled with two players of the junior team,” added Hassan. He said the selectors were following a policy to select only those players who were enjoying prime fitness and form. “ Once Shafqat and Abbas regain form they will be considered for coming events.” He said Champions Challenge Cup would be a test of the team to determine their progress and to qualify for next year’s Champions Trophy. “It will be a tough assignment for our team who have the talent to win it and qualify for the elite Champions Trophy,” he maintained.

Pakistan recently qualified for the World Cup 2010, to be held in New Delhi, India after winning a six-team competition in Lille, France. Pakistan, winners of three Olympic gold medals, failed to earn a place in the World Cup when they were defeated in the Asia Cup 2009 final. The green shirts, who remained up in the clouds for more than three decades and were record four times world champions, have been striving hard for a big title since winning the 1994 World Cup in Australia. They have not won any Asian title since winning the Asian Games in China 19 years ago. Pakistan finished a poor eighth at the Beijing Olympic Games last year – their worst ever showing in the Olympics. They have also missed out on the elite six-nation Champions Trophy in 2008 and 2009 – to be held in Australia next month. Pakistan have never missed a World Cup since the event’s inception in 1971 in Barcelona. Pakistan won the inaugural title and then went on to clinch three more titles in 1978 in Buenos Aires, 1982 in Mumbai and 1994 in Sydney. Pakistan have reached the World Cup final six times.

Hassan said the team members were making resolute efforts to come up to the expectations of the nation. “Team’s recent victory in the World Cup 2010 qualifying round has infused a new confidence in the players and they will be going all out to put up another good show.” The chief selector said the presence of senior players would be an added advantage for the junior players.” The green shirts will leave for Argentina on November 30.

Squad:

Salman Akbar and Nasir Ahmad (goalkeepers), Zeeshan Ashraf (captain), Sohail Abbas and Muhammad Imran (full-backs), Waseem Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, Fareed Ahmad, Muhammad Irfan and Muhammad Rashid (Halve-backs), Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Zubair, Rehan Butt, Abdul Haseem Khan, Akhtar Ali, Omar Bhutta and Mohammad Rizwan (Forwards).

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