LAHORE: Experienced hockey striker Shakeel Abbasi who was expelled from the ongoing national training camp on Wednesday for defying team management’s instructions can stage a comeback after Eid.

This was announced by head coach Akhtar Rasool during a news conference here on Thursday.

“Before the start of the camp (which started in Lahore last Monday), it was mutually decided in a meeting that the players won’t fast during the camp due to the tough nature of the training sessions which are being held in hot and humid weather here,” said the head coach.

“The meeting was also attended by the players including Shakeel who went against the instructions on Wednesday to observe fast which prompted the management to ask him to quit the training camp,” said Akhtar.

Elaborating on the training sessions, the head coach said players had a tough schedule which included a session in the morning, gym training in the afternoon and again a session on the field in the afternoon.

“After completing the ground training, players have to attend a video session late in evening to analyse their game which makes it quite a tough regimen for them,” said Akhtar.

“I am a Muslim and fast regularly, but it may be quite risky for the players’ health to work out in these hot and humid conditions.”

Talking about Shakeel’s return, the head coach said: “The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has no such policy to abruptly close doors on any player. Shakeel may be recalled after Ramazan but he has to prove his fitness and form to claim a place in the team.

“The Asia Cup is a do-or-die event for Pakistan who needs to win it to qualify for the upcoming World Cup,” Akhtar said. “We need to prepare hard for it and field our best team for the event.”

The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from Aug 24 with Pakistan, India, Malaysia and South Korea competing in it.

Akhtar also informed goalkeeper Salman Akbar had joined the camp but he too required to prove his fitness before getting a place in the training camp.