LAHORE, March 28: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday invited penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas and left-half Waseem Ahmad for the training camp, although the pair had announced retirement soon after the Lahore’s Champions Trophy last December.

The two former internationals were among the list of 35 called up for the training camp to be set up at Hockey Club of Pakistan from April 5.

The camp will be for the three-match series against India in different countries to raise funds for tsunami victims and 14th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Malaysia in May.

Waseem has already hinted to play again, but Sohail has reportedly said that he would only be interested in playing for Pakistan at 2006 World Cup. Both had quit international hockey, saying they wanted to make room for youngsters.

However, the PHF claimed both had withdrawn their decision and now they would have to prove their physical fitness in the camp to get place in the team.

Mohammad Saqlain has also been included in the trainees, although goalkeeper Ahmad Alam, skipper Mohammad Nadeem and full-back Ali Raza, were shown the door by PHF after Olympics debacle, saying they were catching up age fast.

Surprisingly, Sameer Hussain, who has been dogged by an injury since long and was eventually axed in 2001, has also been invited to attend the camp.

The first match of the series is suggested to be played on April 22 in Karachi, the second in Colombo on April 25 and the third either in Chandigarh or New Delhi, India, on April 28.

Probables:

Goalkeepers: Salman Akbar (PTCL), Amanullah (Wapda), Rashid Yaqoob (KESC).

Right-full-back: Sohail Abbas (Sui Gas), Waheedul Islam (Punjab), Ihsanullah (Customs), Asim Chohan (PTCL).

Left-full-back: Zeeshan Ashraf (NBP), Tariq Yameen (HBL), Gohar Rasool (Wapda).

Right-half: Ghazanfar, Imran Rasool (PTCL).

Centre-half: Mohammad Saqlain (ABL), Adnan Maqsood (NBP), Sami (KESC).

Left-half: Waseem Ahmed (Wapda), Dilawar Hussain (Army), Nadeem Iqbal (PTCL), Aamir Shahzad (PTCL).

Right-out: Rehan Butt, Zakirullah (Wapda), Sameer Hussain (HBL).

Right-in: Mudassar Ali Khan (Wapda), Aqeel Khan (PTCL), Mukhtar (PIA).

Centre-forward: Kashif Jawwad (HBL), Rizwan Butt (Wapda), Moazzam (Punjab), Mazhar (Quetta), Rabbani (Wapda).

Left-in: Saleem Khalid (PTCL), Asim (PIA).

Left-out: Shabbir (Wapda), Zeeshan (PAF), Naeem Akbar (NBP).