BEIJING, Aug. 15: Former Pakistan captains Rehan Butt and Salman Akbar have both signed four-year contracts to play for Loren Hockey Club in the Dutch League.

Rehan, the 28-year-old forward from Lahore, informed President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Mir Zafarullah Jamali that former Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans played a major role in their induction in the league.

Ex-captain Wasim Ahmed alongwith world’s highest goal-scorer Sohail Abbas are already playing for Rotterdam Club in the Netherlands since the last three years.

“It’s a great honour to play in the highly-rated Dutch League and it will help us to financially improve our positions as well as polish our game,” Rehan said.

The Loren Club last year slipped to fifth position in the Dutch League and this prompted them to sign the two Pakistanis and an Australian to further strengthen the club in the coming season.

Rehan, who has scored 89 goals in 246 internationals, said he will be flying to Amsterdam on Sept 11 to join the league.

However, Rehan said under the Dutch contract, he and Salman could no more play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2007, Rehan played for Bangalore Lions while Salman Akbar featured for Orissa Steeler.—APP