Karachi, June 30 (IANS) Pakistan Wednesday recalled almost all of its previously discarded senior players in the national hockey team in a bid to bolster the team ahead of the year’s two major events – the Commonwealth Games in India and the Asian Games in China.
However, there was no place for Pakistan’s drag flick ace Sohail Abbas, who decided against turning up for a training camp and national trials and was subsequently ignored by national selectors.
Seasoned defender Zeeshan Ashraf, who led Pakistan to a catastrophic last-place finish in the World Cup in Delhi earlier this year, was recalled as the team’s captain. Also back in the 18-man squad are several other senior players including goalie Salman Akbar, midfielder Waseem Ahmed and strikers Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi.
Pakistan dropped these senior players for the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia earlier this year prompting reports that they do not feature in the team management’s plans for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. The team has been selected for a training tour of Europe scheduled next month.
Pakistan squad: Salman Akber, Imran Shah, Zeeshan Ashraf, Mohammad Imran, Amir Shahzad, Mohammad Irfan, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Mohammad Tauseeq, Kashif Javed, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Haseem Khan, Shafqat Rasool, M Rizwan, Waqas Sharif, Umar Bhutta.
