PHF to conduct open trials for national team selection

Karachi, Nov 05: Discarded Pakistan hockey players Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmed has been handed a lifeline by new chief selector Hasan Sardar who invited them and other seniors to attend open trials with an aim to provide them the opportunity to earn their place back in the national team.

In an interview to reporters, Sardar said the present set of selectors have decided to conduct open trials for the national team and senior players like Abbas and Ahmed, who have been constantly sidelined by the previous PHF regime on disciplinary grounds, were welcome to be a part of it.

“There is no bar on anyone to take part in the trials and we would like to see experienced players like Sohail (Abbas) and Waseem (Ahmed) giving their best to win back their places in the national side,” he said.

The earlier PHF set up have barred Abbas and other senior players from playing for Pakistan after they decided to skip the national trials for the last Asian Games in 2006 to play in the professional hockey
league in Europe.

Despite being the all-time highest goal scorer for Pakistan, star drag-flicker Abbas was not included in the Beijing Olympics squad where they finished at a disappointing eighth position.

Sardar, a former Pakistan captain and forward, said he desires to do everything possible to rebuild a strong national side and personal egos has no place in his endeavour.

Pakistan is preparing seriously for a home Test series against India in January next year with the PHF confirming that it had already sent the itinerary of the tour to their Indian counterparts for approval.

The Indian team is scheduled to play the Tests at different venues between January 4 and 16 next year.

As part of preparations for next year’s Junior World Cup, the PHF has also invited junior Indian team for a Test series starting next week.

Off late, Pakistan and India, once the powerhouses of world hockey, have suffered a steady decline with Pakistan’s last major triumph in the international circuit being the World Cup title in 1994.

Abbas, who is presently playing in professional league in Holland, told reporters that if called he has no problems in attending trials.

“I am what I am today because of Pakistan and playing for my country again would be a big honour. I never said no to playing for Pakistan but for some reason the previous PHF officials and selectors never wanted me in the team,” he said.

Bureau Report