October 02, 2006	Monday	Ramazan 8, 1427

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LAHORE, Oct 1: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) may consider Pakistan ‘A’ team players for forthcoming Asian Games in Doha as several senior players will not be available for national training camp.

Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad will be playing in league in Gemany, while Adnan Maqsood, Adnan Zakir, Ghazanfar Ali will be busy in English league during the national training camp. Controversial team captain Mohammad Saqlain has also signed an agreement to play in league in Bangladesh.

PHF president Zafarullah Jamali had told players in his meeting on Sept 26 that they would not be required to seek permission to play in leagues abroad, but warned that only those players would be selected who would attend the training camp.

The first phase of the training camp will be held in Islamabad from Oct 10 to 20 and the second from Nov 1 to 30 in Karachi. The Asian Games will be held in Doha, Qatar from Dec 1 to 15.

“The PHF will announce the names of probables for the camp on Tuesday. Only those players who will report in the camp will be allowed to participate in the trials,” said the secretary PHF Akhtarul Islam.

Sources said that since senior players would not be available for the national camp, PHF would invite players from the Pakistan ‘A’ team which recently won gold medal at the 10th South Asian Games in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan ‘A’ team coach Saleem Sherwani is likely to meet the PHF secretary in Karachi on Monday to give his recommendation about promising players.

Sources said new PHF president was not satisfied with the performance of the senior players. Pakistan finished a poor sixth at World Cup in Germany.