KARACHI: Contrary to the announcement by a selector on Friday, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has named 21 probables instead of an 18-member team for the Junior Hockey World Cup at the end of two-day trials at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium on Saturday.

“We have shortlisted 21 probables and the final 18-member lineup will be announced after a four-match series against national team which begin on Nov six at Lahore,” one of the selectors Ayaz Mahmood told reporters.

The PHF President retired Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Asif Bajwa abruptly left the stadium after the trials without talking to journalists saying the PHF will issue a press release in this regard.

Head Coach Danish Kaleem said the camp has been dispersed and the probables have been asked to report at National Hockey Stadium on Nov 2.

According to him, the first match of the series will be played on Nov six followed by matches on seven, nine and 10.

He said like other teams of the world Pakistan’s training has also been affected due to Covid-19 but we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Pakistan has been drawn in Pool ‘D’ alongside Germany, Argentina and Egypt. The 16 competing teams have been drawn into four equal pools and top two from each will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Pakistan play their opening match against Germany on Nov 24.

Probables: Waqar (goalkeeper), Rizwan Ali, Aqeel Ahmed, Adeel Latif, Moin Shakeel, Ammaduddin Anjum, Roman Khan, Ghanzanfer Ali, Hanan Shahid, Rana Waheed, Umair Sattar, Abdullah (goalkeeper), Mohibullah, Abuzar, Abdul Mannan, Ali Aziz, Mohsin Hassan, Mohammad Abdullah, Ehtisham Aslam, Abdul Rehman and Samiullah.

Stand byes: Hassan Ameen, Murtaza Yaqoob, Shahzeb (Sindh), Shahzeb (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Arbaz Ahmed.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2021