LAHORE, Feb 28: Left half Rana Asif was on Thursday disallowed to appear in the two-day trials by chief coach-cum-manager Khawaja Zakauddin while four other players namely Dilawer Hussain, Adnan Maqsood, Imran Khan and Kashif Ali were drafted in on the instructions of the PHF president Zafarullah Jamali.

The trials are being held to select an 18-member squad for the five-match series in China from March 13-23.

Rana, whose name was included in the 37 probables announced for the national hockey camp, had earlier requested chief coach Zakauddin to let him join the camp from Feb 25 since he had prior engagements in Belgium. However, when he tried to report for the trials on Thursday, he was stopped from entering the field by the senior officials.

Zaka, commenting on the situation, said Asif had promised him that he will be joining the camp on Feb 25 but he had reported three days late instead and was penalised for the same. “The players must realise their responsibilities since this is not an ordinary camp. To make Asif realise that, I did not include him in the list of probables for the trials,” Zaka told Dawn. “It is not a matter of ego for me. The first priority of players like Asif, who have a long career ahead of them, is to consider the national duty as their prime assignment.”

Zaka said that he did not know the purpose of Asif’s visit to Belgium but said the player should have kept his word.

About the inclusion of the other four players, Zaka said that the PHF president had asked the camp officials to give them another chance to prove their mettle in the trials. However, only Kashif reported at the trials on Thursday.

While the coach expressed his ignorance regarding whereabouts of Dilawar and Adnan, it was learnt that Imran was currently in London on a personal visit.

Chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, commenting on the late inclusion of players, said that the president had the authority to recommend any player for the trials. The former Olympian said that he held no personal grudge against any player and all the players would be given a fair chance in the two-day exercise.

To a question, he said that if Adnan, Dilawar and Imran reported for the trials on Friday, they would be allowed to take part.

Two sessions were held on the opening day of the trials and two more will be held on Friday before an 18-member team is finalised for the tour.

Col (retd) Mudassar Asghar, another member of the selection committee, was also present on the occasion while third member, Samiullah, failed to reach Lahore on Thursday due to his daughter’s illness.