Pakistan give 7 overlooked hockey players central contracts

ISLAMABAD: Seven players overlooked for this month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia were included in Pakistan’s 25-man list of centrally contracted players.

Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas, Wasim Ahmed, Shakeel Abbasi, Zeeshan Ashraf and Rehan Butt were given contracts in category ‘A’, while Akhtar Ali and Nasir Ahmed were placed in category ‘C’.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation said in a statement on Monday that category ‘A’ players would be given a monthly salary of 50,000 rupees ($600), category ‘B’ players 40,000 rupees ($475) and category ‘C’ players 30,000 rupees ($360).

All contracts will last three months and are to be reviewed in August.