KARACHI, July 5: Center forward Mahmood Ali will miss the upcoming tour of Europe after he failed to recover from fractured ring finger and was unable to appear on the opening day of two junior trials which got underway at Pakistan Steel Township on Saturday.

The remaining 42 boys appeared in the trials in which three sessions of 35, 30 and 35 minutes were conducted.

Newcomer Muhammad Arshad is now in the run for the spearhead position in place of Mahmood. Another newcomer forward Khurram Butt also caught the eyes of the selectors with his speed, brilliant dribble and temperament.

Practice matches between Whites and Colors were organized to see the boys in action.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Chief General Muhammad Aziz Khan personally witnessed the trials with Chief selector Akhtar Rasool and members of the selection committee Hasan Sardar and Salim Nazim.—APP