ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: A strong 16-member Pakistan Army hockey team left for Seoul (South Korea) on Tuesday night to participate in the elite 8-Team Donghae Mayor Cup Asian club hockey tournament.

Besides Pakistan Army, the other teams to participate in the September 5-11 tournament will be from hosts South Korea, India, Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

Almost all of the selected players appeared in this year's National Hockey Championship for Army.

The Pakistan Army hockey team has won seven of the 14 national tournaments in 2007-08 while they remained runners-up in six others.

The team is being captained by fullback Muhammad Imran who was in the Pakistan team that played in the last month's Beijing Olympics.

The team features another five players - Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Afzal, Waqas Zafar, Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Rizwan – who represented Pakistan in seniors or junior events.

“Chief Of Army Staff has given special permission to the team to participate in the tournament,” said the Secretary of Pakistan Army Sports Directorate, Col. Shujaat Ali Rana.

He said the Pakistan Army team will compete for the first time in any international event.

Squad: Col. Nadeem Ahmed Bhatti (Manager-Coach), Muhammad Asghar (Trainer), Muhammad Imran (captain), Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Saleem, Zahid Butt, Qaiser Raza, Waqas Zafar, Muhammad Afzal, Azher Iqbal, Muhammad Shafique, Muhammad Kashif, Muhammad Ramzan, Shahid Saleem, Shahid Rao, Ali Rehman, Rizwan Jr. and Muhmmad Rizwan Sr.—APP