Pakistan squad named for Champions Trophy
KARACHI: An 18-member Pakistan hockey squad was finalised for the Champions Trophy when half back Rashid Mahmood and forward Rizwan senior earned the selector’s nod at the expense of Yaqoob Azfar and Rizwan Ali after final trials at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Thursday.
Earlier, the selectors have named both Rashid and Rizwan senior among 20 probables in absentia after preceding two-day trials held on Nov 12 and 13 on the pretext that they alongwith others have to prove their fitness during final trials.
Rashid and Rizwan senior, who were away playing professional league in Holland, have reported to the manager-cum-chief-coach Shahnaz Sheikh in the camp the other day.
Meanwhile, Pakistan hockey team will wear the shirts with a logo of Omar Associates in the Champions Trophy.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Imran Butt, Amjad Ali.
Backs: Mohammad Imran (captain), Mohammad Irfan, Kashif Shah.
Halves: Ammad Butt, Mohammad Tousiq Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan junior, Tassawar Abbas, Zohaib Ashraf.
Forwards: Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool (vice-captain), Arsalan Qadir, Umer Bhutta, Rizwan senior, Mohammad Dilber, Ali Shan.
Officials:
Shahnaz Shaikh (Manager-cum-Chief-coach), Nasir Ali, Malik Shafqat, Sameer Hussain, Abu Zar (coaches) and Dr Asad Abbas.
Source: Dawn