ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: A number of senior hockey players including captain Mohammad Saqlain and Sohail Abbas are likely to miss the first phase of national hockey training camp commencing at the Naseer Bunda Polygrass Stadium here on Wednesday in preparation for December's Asian Games.

Former Olympian Manzoorul Hassan will officiate as the camp commandant for the 10-day training camp at Islamabad, the Secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation, Akhtarul Islam told newsmen.

“Since Shahnaz has not made it to Islamabad in time we have decided to post Manzoor as the camp commandant,” said Akhter.

He acknowledged that key senior players will be away from the camp, appearing in European and other hockey leagues. Sohail Abbas and halfbacks Wasim Ahmed and Ghazanfar are currently in Europe while captain Muhammad Saqlain and his fellow halfback Dilawar Hussain are playing in Bangladesh.

“We had clearly told these players that they should attend camp training but they are yet to join the camp,” said Akhter, a former international fullback. “We have, therefore, called up junior and “A” team players for the Islamabad camp and these players will replace the absentees,” he said.

“As for Shahnaz, he will take over when the second and last phase of the camp training starts at Karachi from Nov 1,” the secretary added. —APP