Pakistan names Abbas in Asian Games hockey squad

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Tuesday included veteran penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas in its Asian Games squad after the organising committee of the Guangzhou Games gave late clearance for his inclusion in the contingent.

Announcing the 16-member squad for the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12-27, PHF selection committee retained defender Zeeshan Ashraf as the captain.

Incidentally, there was some ambiguity over Abbas’ selection in the squad as he was a late inclusion in the national training camp and the PHF and Pakistan Olympic Committee had already sent names of the probables for accreditation process to the Games organising committee.

The Guangzhou Games organising committee initially refused to give Abbas accreditation, but sources said the matter has now been sorted out.

Pakistan hockey is eyeing the Asian Games as a revival after ending in the 12th and last position in the World Cup earlier this year and a disappointing sixth in last month’s Commonwealth Games.

Apart from Abbas and Ashraf, the squad includes Muhammad Imran, goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who makes a comeback, Muhammad Irfan, Waseem Ahmad, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmad, Muhammad Tauseeq, Abdul Haseem Khan, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Shafqat Rasool, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Waqas Sharif and Muhammad Rizwan.

PHF chief selector Hanif Khan said looking at Asian Games’ importance, the selectors have decided to persist with senior players like Butt, Abbasi, Abbas, Waseem and Ashraf.

“Obviously we are hoping they will deliver the results for us in the Asian Games. And if we do manage to win the gold medal it will guarantee us a direct spot in the 2012 Olympics in London,” Khan said.

Khawaja Muhammad Junaid has been named as the team manager while Dutch Michel Van Den will be the coach, Ahmad Alam and Ajmal Khan (assistant coaches), Faiz Ur Rehman (physio) and Nadeem Khan Lodhi (video analyst).

The men’s hockey event of Asian Games will take place from November 15-25. Ten teams are divided into two pools. Pool A comprises of Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Oman while Pakistan, India, Japan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong have been clubbed in Pool B