Pakistan Hockey Federation announces 19-member national hockey team for the upcoming Australian tour
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced the 19-member hockey squad for the forthcoming tour of Australia beginning October 20 to November 4. The team was selected by the PHF selection committee headed by the chief selector, Hanif Khan, after three-day
trials at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad.
Alongside participating in the four-nation tournament, the team will play in the International Super Hockey Series and a test match series against the hosts, the Australian Kookaburras, in Perth, Western Australia.
Sohail Abbas, the seasoned drag flicker, and the world record holder for the highest number of goals scored along with a penalty corner conversion rate of almost 65 percent, is also part of the national squad for the tour.
PHF named Shakeel Abbasi as the captain, in place of Muhammad Imran who is suffering from malaria. Nonetheless, Imran will still accompany the team in Australia to stay in shape for the Champions Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, in December.
“Imran is sick but still we have given him a chance to travel with the team mainly because we need him in the all important 2012 London Olympics. This is part of our build-up for the London Olympics. We are hopeful that he will regain his fitness and once
proved fit he has to earn his position back with better fitness and professional skills needed among a leader,” PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa stated.
The Greenshirts’ 19-member hockey squad for the Australian tour includes the following players:
Shakeel Abbasi, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Imran, Imran Shah, Mohammad Irfan, Kashif Shah, Mohammad Rizwan Senior, Mohammad Tousiq, Rashid Mehmood, Fareed Ahmed, Abdul Haseem Khan, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Waqas, Mohammad Rizwan Junior, Ali Shan,
Mohammad Zubair, Umar Bhutta and Muhammad Irfan Junior.
Michael van den Heuvel has been declared the head coach. His assistants include: Shahid Ali Khan and Ajmal Khan Lodhi. Khawaja Junaid (team manager), Faiz-ur-Rehman (physiotherapist) and Nadeem Khan Lodhi (video analyst) will also be accompanying the team.
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