KARACHI, May 19: Recalled goalkeeper, Ahmad Alam, Sunday said he had opted to come out of retirement as he now felt he could serve the sport for at least another couple of years.

The former captain had hung his kickers last August after his team’s poor showing at Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur, citing a dip in his form. Pakistan finished fourth and Ahmad conceded 25 goals.

He was, however, named the best goalkeeper of the four-nation tournament in Hamburg, Germany, just weeks before the event in the Malaysian capital.

Ahmad was among the 31 probables who were invited by the Pakistan Hockey Federation to attend second phase of the camp for the tour to Spain and Manchester Commonwealth Games in July.

Ahmad is the second present day player to reverse his decision and make himself available. Shahbaz Ahmad also made a comeback last year before once again announcing his retirement earlier this month.

Although the veteran keeper has earned the selectors nod after remaining out of international hockey for almost nine months, he will have to prove more worthy than Mohammad Qasim and Salman Akbar.

However, given the fact that both Qasim and Salman are injured, Ahmad may sneak into the final 16-man squad for the trip to Spain and Manchester.

“I will certainly join the camp. It was just a bad patch that I experienced last year. Now since I have regained my form and have maintained my fitness, I have decided to resume international hockey again,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad was a member of the PIA hockey team that retained the national title at Lahore last month.

“Although it depends on form, physical fitness and reflexes of a goalkeeper, I think I still have two or three years of hockey left,” said Ahmad, who skippered the team for 18 months from 2000 to 2001.

The 30-year-old custodian, who made his international debut at a six-nation tournament in France in 1990, however, did not regret it was a hasty step he took last year.

“It was a perfect decision. My performance during last year was at its lowest ebb. I think it was right what I did in those circumstances,” the goalkeeper, who has earned 146 caps during his 12-year-long career, said.

Another reason to call it a day was to pave way for younger players. But now Ahmad felt he was ready to face any challenge and would like to make room after going through all the rigours of training and competing with others.

“I will not ask a guaranteed place in the team. Instead I like to compete along with other goalkeepers and then play for the national side which will be an honour for me,” he said.