KARACHI, March 29: Pakistan will send a 20-member squad to the Hague (Holland) later this month for a training camp and practice matches as a part of their preparation for the Olympic Games in Athens.

A Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official said on Monday that the national squad would leave Islamabad for the Hague on April 16 for a 15-day tour. The squad will include 20 players as the Pakistani management will continue to try new boys in their bid to find the best possible combination for the Athens.

Out of the 20 players, 17 will be from the national team that represented in the Olympic Hockey Qualifiers in Madrid. Young striker Shakeel Abbasi, who was a part of the squad in Madrid, will not be going to Holland as he has been included in the Pakistan youth team for the Junior Asia Cup to be held in Karachi from April 20 to 29.

The players will be accompanied by officials Dr. Mirza Yousuf Baig (manager) and Tahir Zaman (Assistant coach). National coach Roelant Oltmans, Roland Jenson (goal keeping coach) and other officials of the team will join them in the Hague.

The team will return home in the first week of May and after a brief rest will take part in three international tournaments in England, Germany and Holland in June. -PPI