LAHORE: Pakistan national hockey squad left here on Friday for South Korea to play a series of four Test matches there. The squad will play the matches on May 18, 20, 22 and 23 before returning home on May 25.

Talking to media before the team’s departure, captain Mohammad Im­r­an said that matches against South Korea would be very close. “However, after having beaten South Korea in the [recently held] four-nation tournament in Australia our team’s morale is high,” the skipper added.

“I hope the team will deliver a better game in Korea, we would try to implement the experience we gained in the Australia four-nation event,” he added. “The Korea tour will benefit our team in the Olympic qualifying round [to be held later this year].”

Squad:

Mohammad Imran (captain), Imran Butt, Mohammad Irfan, Tasawwar Abbas, Zohaib Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan Jr, Mohammad Tauseeq, Ahmad Shakeel Butt, Faisal Qadir, Mohammad Waqas Sharif, Arsalan Qadir, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Umar Bhutta, Mohammad Dilber, Ali Shan, Mazhar Abbas, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Nawaz Ashfaq.

Team management:

Shahnaz Sheikh (head coach), Nasir Ali (assistant coach).

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2015

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