LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday announced a 20-member squad for the tour of Europe, starting from Friday, after its president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar — instead of national selection committee headed by Olympian Manzoor Junior — approved the team.

Umar Bhutta has been retained as captain for the tour while Ali Shan will be his deputy.

The squad was to be announced on Tuesday but it was delayed without any stated reason.

The squad was announced after a three-week training camp was held in Lahore where no member of the national selection committee turned up, as there are reports head coach Siegfried Aikman had taken control over the selection-related matters.

On their tour to Europe, Pakistan will play two matches against Holland in the first leg of the tour, on April 26 and 27. The greenshirts will then play a one-off match in Belgium on April 29 followed by three games against Spain on May 2, 3 and 4 in the last leg of their tour.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Akmal, Abdullah Ishtiaq

Defenders: Mubashir Ali, Emmad Shakil Butt, Mohammad Abdullah, Arbaz Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Hammad Anjum

Forwards: Umar Bhutta (captain), Ali Shan (vice-captain), Ghazanfar, Moin Shakil, Abdul Manan, Junaid Manzoor, Ruman Khan, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Rana Wahid, Salman Razzaq, Hanan Shahid, Ijaz

Officials: Khawaja Junaid (manager), Siegfried Aikman (head coach); Wasim Ahmad, Bob John (coaches); Nadeem Lodhi (video analyst).

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2022