LAHORE, Feb 27: The two day trials to select an 18-member Pakistan hockey team commences at the National Hockey Stadium’s number two ground from Thursday while a decision on the captaincy will also be taken this week.

In all, 34 probables, who have been attending the training camp at the same venue for the last one week, will be appearing in the trials. The selected squad will tour China from March 13 to 23 to play a five Test match series in Changzhou.

Besides Salman, two other seniors Rehan Butt and Mohammad Saqlain are also in running for the captaincy. However, the chances of goalkeeper Salman retaining his job as skipper are fairly bright since both Saqlain and Rehan have been tested as captains and have failed to deliver in the past.

Though Salman’s performance as captain is also not much encouraging, he has better chances of getting the nod from the selectors.

Former Olympian and chief coach Khawaja Zakauddin told Dawn that though the decision of appointing a captain is on cards, it will not be a difficult one.“We have Rehan Butt, Saqlain and Salman Akbar as the three choices, but frankly speaking, it is not an issue as the boys are concentrating on the game in the training camp rather than debating the captaincy,” the Zaka said.

The tour is the first assignment of the Pakistan team towards preparations for the Beijing Olympics, scheduled to be held in China this August.

Zaka said the boys were keen to improve their skill and had showed lot of zest and spirit during the ongoing training camp as well as keeping their fitness levels high.

“The fitness has been a gray area and we are trying to overcome it as it may be a key to success against China who are going from strength to strength,” he said.

The Chinese have raised a good team which claimed a silver medal in the Asian Games-2006 held in Doha, Qatar.

The national selection

committee headed by Islahuddin Siddiqui with its two members Samiullah Khan and Syed Mudassar Asghar alongwith Zaka and PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood will watch the trials.