July 04, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 18, 1428

LAHORE, July 3: The 27th National Junior hockey championship, shifted from Quetta to Faisalabad, will now be held from Aug 18 to 26.

For the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) this championship is of utmost importance since it will help the management spot talent for forming a formidable side keeping in view the 2009 Junior World Cup.

To prevent the entry of over-aged players, the PHF has formed a three-member ‘Age Credentials Check Committee’ consisting of national chief selector former Olympian Khawaja Zakauddin, junior national team’s manager Jahangir Butt and ex-Olympian Rana Mujahid.

To check the ages the committee will apply ‘bone test’ or may resort to ‘facial scrutiny’ to disqualify the over-aged players.

All the departments including PIA, Pakistan Steel, PAF, Navy, Army, NBP, Railways, PTCL, Customs, HEC, HBL, Pakistan Boards, Police, Wapda, POF, KESC, SSGC, Port Qasim Authority, PTV and provincial teams from the NWFP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan/Islamabad, AJK and Northern Areas, have been informed to strictly ensure that their respective players are aged under 19 years as on Jan 1, 2007.

Meanwhile, the departmental teams have been instructed to confirm their participation to the PHF by July 15.

The national selection committee will also witness the players’ performance at the junior championship to spot players for the trials.

The squad for the trials will be announced after the final day of the championship.

These selected players will appear in these trials on Aug 27 out of which the national junior probables would be selected for the camp.