KARACHI, Nov 24: Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) held a press briefing at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) on Monday ahead of the Under-20 National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Junior Hockey Tournament to be played at HCP from Nov 26 to Dec 5.

Speaking to the media, KHA’s Honorary Secretary Gulfraz Ahmed Khan said that they would be moving ahead the draws by a day as they were still awaiting confirmation from the teams about their participation in the tournament.

For this the technical officials and managers will hold a meeting at the HCP 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The tournament is expected to feature prominent department and provincial teams, namely, NBP, Pakistan International Airlines, Habib Bank Limited, Pakistan Steel, Army, Wapda and NWFP, Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh along with a Karachi team due to the city’s playing host to the event.

About the structure of the event, Gulfraz Ahmed said: “If we have 11 teams, we will be breaking them into three pools and if we get eight, they will be divided into two pools.”

The inaugural match would take place at 4.00pm on Nov 26 with NBP’s President Syed Ali Raza as the chief guest.

To a question, Gulfraz Ahmed disclosed that NBP had granted them funds worth Rs4,00,000 (four lac) for the tournament.

The event, carrying cash prizes worth Rs55,000, will award Rs30,000 to the winning team and Rs20,000 to the runner-up. A prize of Rs10,000 has also been reserved for the Man of the Tournament, with Rs5,000 each for the best man of the final and best goalkeeper.

Gulfraz Ahmed also said that they were holding this event at the HCP as the KHA didn’t have its own ground. That was also why they had to rent the UBL Sports Complex for one year.

Meanwhile the tournament’s organising secretary and KHA President Mohammad Farooq Khan said that he hoped to bring hockey back to life within the city with regular tournaments.

To a question regarding players’ ages, this being an Under-20 event after all, Gulfraz Ahmed said that they will be checking the ages as registered by NADRA. But in future, as advised by PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa, they would be demanding pictures along with the ‘B’ forms. It was said that the PHF intended taking strict action against all those officials who accept over-age players.

Meanwhile the Karachi squad for the tournament was announced.

Squad: Junaid Aslam (captain), Adnan Anwer (vice captain), Kamran Sharif, Zia-ul-Haq, M. Ali, Asim Abbasi, Sarfraz Khan, Aal-e-Imran, Aal-e-Hasan, Ahmed Ali, Waseen Jamal, Agha Babar, Sujaat Hussain, Aun Ali, Anas Furqan, Salman Khan, Basim Ghafoor, Sohail Ashraf, Fareed Mansoor.

Reserves: M. Abrar, Moizullah, M. Amad, Zohaib

Officials: Arif Siddiqui (chief coach), Jafar Hussain (coach), Mohsin Siqquiqi (physio).