LAHORE, May 31: The final phase of the national hockey training camp for the Commonwealth Games will resume from Sunday here at National Hockey Stadium.

The selectors shortlisted 31 players after two-day trials earlier instead of 22 because of injuries to a number of probables and non-availability of key players.

The camp was wrapped up to give the injured players a ten-day rest before rejoining the camp.

Manager Col Zafar Khan (retd) said Friday that goalkeepers Mohammad Qasim and Salman Akbar were still on the injury list. Their injuries would take another week to heal.

Mohammad Sarwar, who had injured his right hand, and Mudassir Khan, who injured his right eye, had recovered and would join the camp, the official said.

The three players, Waseem Ahmad, Sohail Abbas, Kashif Jawwad, playing league abroad, have returned home. Sohail and Kashif had gone to Malaysia, while Waseem was in Germany.

Zafar said apart from Qasim and Salman, former captain Ahmad Alam would also join the camp after reversing his retirement decision after nine months.

“It is a good omen that Alam is back which will be beneficial for the Pakistan hockey,” he said.

The final trials to select the 18-member squad would be held on June 15, the manager said.

He said instead of a 16 member team, 18 players would be picked for the tour to Spain from July 12 to 20. The team would fly straight to Manchester to appear in the Games from July 25.

“Four test against Spain will serving as warm-up before the Games. They will help us to execute different plans and strategies,” he said.—APP