ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee has named Ammad Shakeel Butt-led 18-member squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup starting in Ipoh, Malaysia, from May 4.
The three-member selection committee consisting of Head Coach Roelant Oltmans, Monzoor-ul-Hasan Sr., and Deputy Director-general of the Pakistan Sports Board Mohammad Shahid Islam finalized the squad after analyzing 44 shortlisted players in action over four sessions of the trials at the Bunda Ground in Islamabad on Sunday.
While talking to the media, Oltmans said, “This is the best available pool of players, selected based on their performance in the trials. There was some discussion on a few players, and ultimately panel agreed on the team which could be termed the best of the available lot.”
“We will try to make the best of the available team. It would have been far better if all these selected players trained together at the outset of the camp at the Bunda Ground,” Oltmans said. On the Pakistan team’s expected performance in the forthcoming Azlan Shah Cup, he said winning the event and every match has always been his top priority.
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The selected team will bear the signature of Tariq Bugti as the president of PHF after being allowed by all the concerned including the government of Pakistan, PSB, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), and FIH.
Earlier, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was surrounded by controversies as the board was split into two factions, one headed by Tariq Bugti and the other by Shehla Raza, both initiated their separate training camps.
Last week, the camp organized by Shehla in Karachi announced a 20-member squad. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken notice of the matter and with his coordinator on youth affairs, Rana Mashhood’s assistance, players announced by the Shehla group were brought to Islamabad.
Following trials on Sunday, a new team was announced, comprising players from both camps.
Pakistan hockey squad for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Goalkeepers: Abdullah, Muneebur Rehman.
Defenders: Usama Bashir, Ehtisham Aslam, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufiyan, Abu Bakar (vice-captain), Ammad Butt (captain).
Midfielders: Salman Razzaq, Arshad Liaquat, Moin Shakeel, Zakria Hayat, Murtaza Yaqoob, Ghazanfar Ali.
Forwards: Abdul Rehman (Sr), Abdul Hanan, Rana Waheed, Ejaz Ahmad.
Standbys: Akmal Hussain, Aqeel Ahmad, Arbaz, Hammad Anjum, Abdul Rehman (Jr), Abdul Manan, Rooman.