Pakistan Hockey Team looking optimistic for Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy
Pakistan hockey team Chief Selector, Mohammad Hanif Khan, named the eighteen-member squad that will compete in the upcoming Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy, set to be played in Auckland, New Zealand, from December 3 to 11.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) reposed its confidence in Mohammad Imran as the skipper of the national team for Pakistan’s most important assignment of the year.
Mohammad Imran was replaced with Shakeel Abbasi as the team captain, who led the Green-shirts in the recently concluded Australian tour. The ill-health of Imran forced the federation to choose Abbasi as the skipper of the national team.
The Green-shirts, under the captaincy of Abbasi, displayed a stunning performance in the finals of the Three-Nation Tournament, defeating the world’s number-one team, Australia.
In the meantime, Salman Akbar, a seasoned goalie, was also called back in the national team, after missing the Australian trip. He was playing in a Dutch Club for the season, and therefore, he was ruled out for the Australian tour.
Muhammad Irfan Junior and Umar Bhutta were not considered for the Champions Trophy due to their below-par performances.
Chief Selector, Hanif Khan, while speaking to the media, said that the Pakistan hockey team is capable of knocking down any best team of the world.
He was quite confident about better outcomes in the future assignments. He observed, “I hope the team will spring positive results in the Champions Trophy”.
Pakistan hockey team’s coach, Shahid Ali Khan, stated that the Green-shirts rendered outstanding performances in the recent past. In his view, Salman Akbar’s comeback will assist the national team to earn fruitful results.
He underlined, “We’ve been making some solid preparations for the Champions Trophy which is one of the toughest events in international hockey. We are working on finishing and individual skills. The overall fitness of the boys is improving”.
In the next phase, the trainer said, they will work to improve the penalty corner section and the defence of the team, while speed and power also require some training, he added.
He anticipated that the team has the capability to finish the tournament among the top four squads.
The Green-shirts will have many chances to ride into the semi-final stage if the players display their real endurance in the Champions Trophy, he maintained.
Pakistan is clubbed alongside Spain, Great Britain and the world’s number one, Australia, in Pool A while Pool B is comprised of South Korea, Netherlands, Germany and the host, New Zealand.
The Pakistan’s team comprises Mohammad Imran, Salman Akbar, Imran Shah, Kashif Shah, Muhammad Irfan, Shafqat Rasool, Muhammad Rizwan, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tauseeq, Waqas Shariq, Shakeel Abbasi, Abdul Haseem
Khan, Muhammad Rizwan Senior, Muhammad Zubair and Ali Shan.
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