LAHORE: Nov 25: Pakistan on Thursday named controversial centre-half Mohammad Saqlain in the 18-member squad for the Champions Trophy hockey.

Saqlain's inclusion in the squad was surprising since he was dropped by coach Roelant Oltmans on the eve of departure for pre-Olympic tour of Europe because of discipline problems.

Surprisingly, PHF president Gen Aziz Khan (retd) said that Saqlain had been recalled after he proved his form and good conduct during the training camp. He clarified that Saqlain was not only dropped on disciplinary ground, but his performance was also not satisfactory.

"He was also not in good form, besides bad conduct, therefore, he was axed from the squad and the decision later proved right because it did not make any impact on the team as it performed well in the Olympics," he said.

PHF chief said Saqlain's recent performance in German league and good behaviour helped him stage a comeback. Saqlain's return is more surprising since PHF had discarded goalkeeper Ahmad Alam, captain Mohammad Nadeem and full-back Ali Raza after the Olympics, saying the players were spent forces and aging.

He said the players would be rewarded if they won the Champions Trophy. "They will not have any complaint from the PHF as far as the reward is concerned," he promised. However, PHF president did not watch the "trials" as he reached National Hockey Stadium late. Oltmans had wrapped up the session when PHF president reached the venue.

PHF has created an unnecessary controversy, just weeks before the prestigious tournament by announcing that trials would be held for selecting the squad for the Trophy. While PHF is claming to have trials, Oltmans has expressed ignorance about such activity.

"For me it is only a training session and I have no information about any trials," Oltmans had said. "PHF selection committee will watch the trials before announcing the team on Thursday," a PHF had stated through a press release.

Asked if the team being announced was the same which was approved by the coach, the chief selector Akhtar Rasool said "the team has been finalised with consensus of the coach."

Gen Aziz had also claimed that Olympic squad was announced after consensus. But reports suggested that there were differences between selectors and coach on the exclusion of Mohammad Sarwar from Olympic squad. Oltmans had even refused to talk to the media after the meeting with selectors and Gen Aziz before the announcement of the squad.

SQUAD: Waseem Ahmad (captain), Salman Akbar, Nasir Ali, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Imran, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ghazanfar Ali, Mohammad Saqlain, Adnan Maqsood, Dilawar Hussain, Rehan Butt, Adnan Zakir, Mudassar Ali, Shakeel Abbasi, Kashif Jawwad, Tariq Aziz, Shabbir Hussain and Akhtar Ali.