LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has called up 150 probables for a training camp to select its ‘A’ team for an FIH event it is hosting this month despite having no opportunity to gain any point.

The FIH, the game’s world governing body, has granted one of the first rounds of the Hockey Series Open to Pakistan to be held in Lahore from Dec 17 to 22. Teams from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Nepal along with Pakistan will be participating in the activity.

Pakistan will not enter its national team because its has already been selected among the nine countries for the FIH Pro League, the new flagship event of the world body starting in January next. In fact, the Pakistan side competing in this event will be like a guest team and the points earned by them would not be counted towards deciding the positions in the competition.

The Hockey Series Open is available for entry to all eligible countries. Events at this level are continent based. The number of competitions spread throughout the world is determined by the number of entries.

From all teams competing in this first round at various places (mostly completed) a minimum of 15 teams will qualify for one of three separate Hockey Series Finals.

Each of the Hockey Series Finals will have eight teams playing in them and will take place throughout the world, with berths into the Olympic qualification events up for grabs.

Meanwhile, the camp will be held at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in Karachi From Dec 3, where 115 called players will report.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2018