October 02, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 19, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 1: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday finally announced the juniors squad for Singapore’s six-nation under-19 tournament with some glaring omissions as few over-aged and undisciplined players also managed to find their place in the outfit.

While controversial full-back Mohammad Atiq, forwards Mohammad Zubair, and Shafqat Rasool got selectors’ nod, up-and-coming youngsters like half-back Fareed and forwards Atif Yaqoob and Azlan Khan were dropped for reasons better known to the team management.

Although Atif is one of the several over-aged players in the camp, he should also have been included in the squad since the selectors and manager Jahangir Butt had not followed a definite age criteria and disciplinary record.

Atiq had been involved in indiscipline in the past and was found ordering one of his fellow camp trainees for Egypt and Kenya tours to pass the ball onto a particular player. He was admonished by Jahangir then but was accommodated in the team on Monday.

Apart from Atiq, Shafqat Rasool, Amir Shahzad, have also been included despite being over-aged. With the exception of Atiq, who was first selected for national camp in 2002, team captain Shafqat, Amir and Atif all have been participating in Pakistan junior camps since 2001.

If one even considers that the quartet was 15 years of age when they first appeared in the national camp in 2001 or 2002, they will surely be 20 or 21-year-olds now.

Atif, who is one of two or three probables who trained while fasting, has not even been included in the standbys.

Zubair, who has been sidelined by senior team manager Islahuddin Siddiqui due to lack of serious approach towards training, has made room in the juniors squad also. Being a senior team player, he should have been appointed captain, but astonishingly Shafqat has been retained as the leader.

Interestingly, Zeeshan Taufeeq has been included in the squad at the cost of Atif who was a better choice, while coach Danish Kaleem’s favourite Adnan Jawaid has also been named in the side.

Another one, Inayatullah, who also has the blessings of Danish, will be playing as a centre-forward, although Pakistan juniors have vice-captain Haseem Khan who is perhaps the best spearhead in the country.

Having two centre-forwards at the same time defies logic since one hardly sees two spearheads in the team at the same time.

Surprisingly, Adnan Jawaid is originally a right-half and Imran Abbas is actually a right-in but both are now playing as full-backs.

The tournament, to be hosted by Singapore from Oct 17 to 21, will be participated by India, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Squad:

Goalkeeper: Imran Butt, Mohammad Khurram.

Full-backs: Mohammad Ateeq, Adnan Jawaid, Imran Abbas.

Half-backs: Mohammad Irfan, Zaheer Ahmad, Aamir Shahzad, Zeeshan Ali, Khurrum Shahzad.

Forwards: Adeel Hussain, Zeeshan Taufeeq, Haseem Khan (vice-captain), Shafqat Rasool (captain), Shahzad Nasir, Mohammad Imran, Inayatullah, Mohammad Zubair.

Standbyes: Waqas Liaqat, Hafiz Rahman, Mohammad Khalid, Kashif Jawaid, Fareed, Salman, Rizwan, Imran Malik, Azlan Khan, Hassan Akhtar, Shuja Rahman, Ejaz Ahmed.

Officials: Jahangir Butt (manager), Danish Kaleem (coach), Kamran Ashraf (additional coach), Mohammad Akhtar (physiotherapist), Mohsin Ali Khan (umpire).