LAHORE: Mohammad Umar Bhutta has been retained captain as the national selectors on Friday announced an 18-member Pakistan squad for the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy being held in Chennai from Aug 3-12.

The squad was selected after the two-day trials which concluded here at the National Hockey Stadium’s outer ground on Friday.

The Kaleemullah-headed selection committee along with members Nasir Ali, Raheem Khan and Shakeel Abbasi witnessed the players at the trials.

The Asian Champions Trophy will be played on single league basis.

Pakistan launch their campaign with the match against Malaysia on Aug 3 followed by the game against South Korea on Aug 4. The green-shirts’ third match is against Japan to be played on Aug 6 after which Umar and company take on China on Aug 7.

Pakistan play their last league match against traditional rivals India on Aug 9.

Commenting on the selected squad, Umar said it comprised senior and junior players and hoped they would give their best at the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy.

“Though India are a higher-ranked team than Pakistan [16th], it will be a tough match and both the teams will have the chance to win,” Umar said.

“Moreover, each match will be important because every team must be preparing for the tournament.”

The captain regretted missing national team’s specialist drag-flicker Arbaz Ahmad who could not be selected due to a back injury he sustained a couple of days ago.

Arbaz, Umar added, had been advised six-week rest.

“In his absence Abdul Rahman and Sufyan are the two other penalty-corner specialists [in the team],” the captain stated.

Meanwhile, head coach Rehan Butt and coach Mohammad Saqlain said though the Pakistan side contained both senior and junior campaigners, they had the potential to beat any rival on the given day.

Olympians Rehan and Saqlain have been assigned the national team’s coaching duty for the first time along with Dilawar Bhatti.

Rehan said every match would be important but playing against India on their soil would be the most important match for Pakistan.

“Though there is a big gap between the rankings of Pakistan and India, the boys remain upbeat to give their best,” the coach remarked.

According to Rehan, earning maximum points in the Chennai event to improve the international ranking is the aim of the team management.

“Our real target is this year’s Asian Games [in Hangzhou in September].”

Saqlain said the Pakistan team had a good forward line having the ability to launch swift attacks.

Squad:

Mohammad Umar Bhutta (captain); Goalkeepers: Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan; Defenders: Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Ihtesham Aslam, Usama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmad; Midfielders: Arshad Liaquat, Mohammad Emmad, Murtaza Yaqoob; Forwards: Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakriya Hayat, Rana Abdul Wahid Ashraf (vice-captain), Roman, Mohammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abndul Rahman

Standbyes: Ali Raza, Mohammad Baqir, Mohammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Mohammad Arslan, Abdul Qayyum.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023