KARACHI: Thirty five probables are set to appear in the two-day national hockey trials which begin at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday at 3.00pm.

The strength of the camp trainees rose to 35 after 11 players joined the national camp late Monday evening.

According to manager-cum-chief coach Shahnaz Shaikh, the players who reported for trials include Mohammad Imran, Syed Kashif Shah, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohammad Rizwan junior, Mohammad Tousiq, Zohaib Ashraf, Tasawar Abbas, Mohammad Waqas, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Umar Bhutta and Mohammad Dilber.

The five probables who will skip the trials were Faisal Qadir (hairline fracture), Qasim (knee injury), Asad Bashir (back injury) Rizwan senior and Rashid Mahmood (away in Holland).

The last two — Rizwan senior and Rashid — are expected to return on Nov 23. “They have to prove their fitness before the selectors for making it to the national team for Champions Trophy slated in India next month,” Shahnaz told Dawn.

He said the players will visit Islahuddin and late Dr Mohammad Ali Shah hockey academy on Friday to play on the blue turf.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014