LAHORE, Sept 10: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has turned down the proposal of team manager Abdul Rashid Junior to send a 20-member squad instead of 18 for Sept 21 to 28 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Rashid had suggested to add two more players to the squad to give the youngsters international exposure before next year’s Athens Olympics.

Minnows Bangladesh and China are in Pool “B” along with Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup. The team also play practice matches against Japan and Malaysia before the competition.

The manager said PHF had refused to add players to the squad, but avoided to comment on the PHF’s refusal. “They (PHF) are the final authority and now I will take an 18-member squad,” Rashid replied with a smile.

Rashid said all the team members were physically fit.

Meanwhile, the manager and coach Tahir Zaman said the team had been well prepared and would bring the Asia Cup to Pakistan.

“The team has the potential to win the contest and if luck also favoured us we will win the cup,” the manager said while speaking at a ceremony for the launching of a new kit for Pakistan team on Wednesday.

He said victory and defeat were part of the game but he assured the national team would not disappoint the nation at the forthcoming tournament.

Tahir said his main target was Athens Olympics and a victory at Asia Cup would be a booster. He added that he had paid special attention to improve the weak defence which was exposed during the Amstelveen Champions Trophy last month.

The coach said technical expertise of some former senior players was also sought to improve the poor defence.