Former Greenshirts’ skipper Zeeshan Ashraf return to national side unsure – Hockey News
Zeeshan Ashraf, the former skipper of the national hockey side, is uncertain about his comeback to the side as the young Greenshirts performed brilliantly in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, China.
The former skipper and the seasoned defender had already articulated his availability for this year’s FIH Men’s Champions Trophy to be played in Auckland, New Zealand from December 3 to 11.
“I am available for the tournament. If the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) wants me back, I am more than ready. I am confident that I can prove my fitness but it is up to the PHF to decide,” the veteran defender expressed his views while talking to The
Express Tribune.
The former national skipper who led the 2010 Asian Games winning-side vacated the spot for the junior players by saying that he will only feature in the major tournaments like the Champions Trophy and the Olympic Games.
Hanif Khan, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief selector, pointed out that the former national skipper and the veteran defender, Zeeshan Ashraf, will not be an automatic choice for the future and the decision will be taken by the selection committee
after getting a proceed from the federation.
“We can consider his name among the Champions Trophy probables after getting the PHF’s green signal,” Hanif Khan stated about the veteran defender.
Meanwhile, another PHF official has stated that an impressive performance by the young guns in the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy in China, in which the Greenshirts finished at second place after losing the final against the traditional rivals,
India has become a challenge for the senior players to be a part of the national side.
The PHF official further stated that the federation is happy with the youngster’s performance in the Asian Champions Trophy and the decision regarding the selection of the senior players can only be taken after having a detailed tour report by the team management.
“The report will be crucial in deciding the fate of these senior players who are not an automatic choice anymore,” the official added to his comments about the tour report.
The experienced trio including Rehan Butt, Salman Akbar and Sohail Abbas are also awaiting the invitation to play in the national side.
Tags: