LAHORE: The training camp for the national junior hockey team is in full swing at ground number two of the National Hockey Stadium and head coach Danish Kaleem is hopeful players would regain form and fitness soon.

“The boys are working hard in training despite the scorching conditions but I think it will help them get fitter and come into their top form,” Danish told reporters here on Monday.

The camp, set up to prepare a team for this year’s World Cup and the Asia Cup, is being attended by 31 probables, who will be reduced to 22 or 24 following trails on Thursday.

The Covid-19 pandemic means there is no clarity when and where the events will take place.

The World Cup is scheduled to be held in India in November, while the Asia Cup was pulled out of Bangladesh by the Asia Hockey Federation due to the virus situation.

While the AHF hasn’t yet announced new venues or dates, the World Cup hasn’t yet been shifted out of India, where the virus situation saw the Board of Cricket Control in India shift the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, due to be held from October to November this year, to UAE last week.

Danish said that after the probables were reduced on Thursday, the camp will continue till July 28 and “hopefully we will have a final decision on the World Cup and the Asia Cup so the Pakistan Hockey Federation will be able announce the further training programme”.

He added that an inquiry had been initiated following a clash between some players and the security guards of the Sports Board Punjab due to some misunderstanding.

“The team management has sidelined two probables and after receiving the inquiry’s report, a further decision would be taken,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021