ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Friday announced 33 probables for the Olympic qualifying round, slated to be held in Belgium in June.

The 15-day qualifying round will begin in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20, in which ten teams, including Pakistan, Australia, India, Malaysia, Belgium, participate.

The PHF has directed all the selected probables to participate in the training camp which will start at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium here from Monday.

Head coach Shahnaz Shiekh will supervise the camp.

Speaking to Dawn, PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said that for getting desired results in the qualifying round, the PHF has planned at least four international tours for the national team before that.

“We have planned visits to Australia, Korea, Germany and Holland in next three months. If our players are not provided chance to play these countries, then our victory in the Olympic qualifying round will be very difficult,” he maintained.

“Though we don’t have funds but at the same time we don’t want to waste time and that’s why we are going to establish a camp from March 16. Meanwhile, we keep trying to get fund from the government,” he said.

The PHF secretary further said the federation would take up funding issue with the prime minister and request him for a special package to keep the national game alive.

Probables:

Goalkeepers: Imran Butt, Amjad Ali, Mazhar Abbas, Talal Khalid, Altaf.

Fullbacks: Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Kashif Shah, Mubashar Ali, Kashif Ali, Atif Mushtaq.

Halves: Tasawar Abbas, Zohaib Ashraf, M. Rizwan Jr., Mohammad Tousiq, Rashid Mahmood, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Sharjeel, Faisal Qadir.

Forwards: Mohammad Waqas, Arslan Qadir, Shafqat Rasool, Umar Bhutta, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Dilber, Mohammad Rizwan Senior, Ali Shan, Rizwan Ali, Ejaz, Rana Umair, Bilal Qadir, Shan Irshad and Azfar Yaqoob.—Sports Reporter

Published in Dawn March 14th , 2015

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