KARACHI, Sept 6: Officials Friday were forced to shift the junior hockey training camp to Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) from DHA Stadium.

According to the team management, the probables, who reached DHA Stadium at 3.00pm for their daily evening practice games Friday, had to be shuttled back to HCP, as the pitch was not watered.

“We had no option but to return back to HCP when Ayaz told me that Astroturf has not been watered and he wants to bring the boys back. Since it takes at least an hour and a half to water the surface, I asked Ayaz to return,” team manager, Col Abdul Rauf (retd), said.

Officials had decided to hold morning session including physical training at the HCP, and the practice matches in the evening at DHA Stadium, considering the worn-out HCP surface.

Coach Ayaz Mahmood complained that this was not the first example of the indifferent attitude of the DHA Stadium officials as he had experienced a similar situation on Wednesday too.

Rauf said due to these circumstances the probables would now have both morning and evening sessions at the HCP — one of the major hockey centres that badly needs refurbishing including a new turf.

The number of hopefuls, who were 63 on day one, had also increased with few more players from the provincial associations joining the camp, the manager said.

“Five players from among the probables were sent home as they were either overage or underage,” said the manager.

A group of 67 probables are training under the supervision of Ayaz who is being assisted by former internationals Qamar Ibrahim and Salman Wahab.

The youngsters being trained will be shortlisted to 44. They will then be shifted to Pakistan Steel Mills Complex Sunday for further training and trials on Sept 21-22.

The final 18-member squad will take part in the international invitational contest to be played in Cairo from Oct 11.