ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selectors on Saturday announced an 18-member national junior squad for the fourth Sultan of Johor Junior Tournament.

The six-nation competition will be staged in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from Oct 12 to 19. Besides Pakistan other participating teams are Malaysia, India, England, New Zealand and Australia.

The Pakistan squad will leave for Kuala Lumpur on Oct 9.

Trials to select the final line-up for this event were held here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

The five-member national selection committee headed by Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui conducted the trials.

“We have selected best players purely on merit. These boys have a bright future,” said Islahuddin.

Speaking to Dawn, the chief selector said he could predict good future for the selected players.

“Most of these boys are young and will appear on international circuit for the first time. And I think they have a good future,” he said.

Age limits for the event is Under-21, but the PHF selected U-19 team, focusing on youth so that the junior team could produce a number of players for national squad in future.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Talal Khalid; Full-backs: Mubashar Ali, Shah Faisal Shah, Hassan Anwar; Halves: Abu Bakar Mahmood, Ghazanfar Ali, Mohammad Qasim, Faizan, Ali Raza; Forwards: Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob, Nohaiz Zahid Malik (captain), Shan Irshad, Mohsin Sabir, Mohammad Atiq (vice-captain), Mohammad Bilal Mahmood, Mohammad Naveed, Amir Ali.

Officials: Manzoor-ul-Hasan (head coach); Qamar Ibrahim, Kamran Ashraf, Mohammad Irfan, Rehan Butt (coaches); Mohammad Nadeem Khan Lodhi (video analyst); Mohammad Adnan (physiotherapist).

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2014