18 July 2004	Sunday	29 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

RAWALPINDI, July 17: Pakistan on Saturday named eight-member squad for the 7th FIP World Polo Championships to be held in France in September, it was announced by the chairman Pakistan Polo Association (PPA), Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hasan.

Podger EI Effendi, who had been the highest handicapped player in Pakistan's polo history, will remain the coach while Irfan Ali Hyder has been appointed as manager.

Shah Qublai Alam, handicapped at three goals, has been retained as the captain, it was officially learnt.

The remaining members of the team are: Raja Samiullah, Hissam Ali Hyder, Shah Shamyl Alam, all handicapped at four goals, Haseeb Minhas, handicapped at three goals, and Ahmed Tiwana, handicapped at two goals.

The team has proceeded to Argentina on a training tour, from where they will head directly to France to compete in the championship beginning from Sept 9.

Pakistan is grouped with defending champions Brazil, Mexico and England in the League format.

He said, Pakistan has a very good chance of making it to semi finals as in their run up to the final round of the championship, they had beaten some good International teams as well as beating India twice in the last six months.

The chairman further said that with polo now developed into a major sport not only in Pakistan but globally and it was time for the PPA to prepare itself for managing and developing the sport on professional lines.

"Young players have to be supported and for this, Academies will be setup besides developing new facilities.

"New facilities in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad are already planned and in progress while further venues will be identified and developed all over the country", said.

He said PPA will be working towards enforcing new rules for conduct of professional tournaments in the coming season as well as a "hands on approach" to the domestic polo season as this is the nursery for providing the future core of the Pakistan team.

In addition, he said, PPA will coordinate International series in the coming season with the reverse leg of the SAF Polo Challenge to be played in India after September while further home and away Test series will also be organized.-APP