25-Apr-2012
The News
KARACHI: Muhammad Umar Bhutta is all set to lead Pakistan junior hockey team in the 7th Men’s Junior Asia Cup to be held in Malacca, Malaysia from May 3 to 13.
Umar is one of the five players in the squad who have represented the national senior team in international matches. Kashif Shah, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Tauseeq and Ali Shan are the other four.
The trials were marred by a surprising decision of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to announce the team even before the end of the exercise.
The PHF announced the squad through a media release while the selection committee headed by former Olympian Hanif Khan was busy in witnessing the trials.
As many as 25 probables took part in trials from which the PHF named 18 players for the event. “This is a very important tournament as it will serve as qualifiers for the next year’s World Cup. So we have selected the best available lot for the assignment,” Hanif Khan, Pakistan hockey chief selector, told reporters here Tuesday at Hockey Club of Pakistan. “Five of the selected players also regularly play with the senior team so I expect the team has the potential to win the title,” Hanif said.
Apart from Pakistan and hosts Malaysia, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka are the participating teams.
The team will leave for Ipoh, Malaysia on April 26.
Players: Mazhar Abbas, Syed Kashif Shah (vice-captain), Muhammad Khalid, Aleem Bilal, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Tousiq, Tasawwar Abbas, Kashif Javed, Zohaib Ashraf, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Umar Bhutta (captain), Muhammad Dilber, Ali Shan, Muhammad Suleman, Muhammad Umair, Hafiz Umer Sardar, Muhammad Jaffar and Hafiz Rizwan Ali.
Officials: Rana Mujahid Ali (Manager/Head Coach), Danish Kaleem, Anjum Saeed and Ahmed Alam (Coaches), Asad Abbas Shah (Team Doctor) and Syed Abu Zar Umrao (Video-Analyst). |
