`Jrs likely to boost hockey squad`

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

LAHORE, Feb 27 Expressing bit of disappointment over the talent available in the national hockey training camp, member of the national selection committee Rana Mujahid on Friday said some junior players could be inducted into the senior team to make it stronger for the forthcoming Azlan Shah and Asia Cups.

After watching the one-day trials and short-listing the probables from 38 to 25 at the National Hockey Stadium for the back-to-back international assignments, Rana said it was hard task to pick a match-winning combination from the boys attending the camp.

“It is not looking possible to pick up a strong team from the lot which is attending the camp. We are considering the option to also include some juniors to pick a strong team for the Asia Cup and Azlan Shah Cup,” he said.

“We have consulted both chief selector Hasan Sardar and Mohammad Shafiq, before finalizing the list of 25 probables,” Rana said.

Besides Rana, other members of the selection committee Khalid Bashir, Farhat Khan, team manager Mohammad Asif Bajwa, head coach Shahid Ali Khan and coach Kamran Ashraf watched the trials.

The final trials to select the 18-member Pakistan team will be held on March 18.

Probables

Goalkeepers Nasir Ahmad (PIA), Sajid (Railways), Waseem (Steel Mills).

Full Backs Zeeshan Ashraf (NBP), Muhammad Imran (Army), Ehsan Ullah (PIA), Halves Rana Asif (WAPDA), Dilawar Hussain (PIA), Muhammad Saqlain (ABL), Zeeshan Ali (KESC), Waqas Zafar (Army), Sibtain Raza (NBP) and Khurram Shahzad (HBL).

Forwards Shakeel Abbasi (SSGC), Waqas Sharif (WAPDA), Waqas Akbar (PIA), Akhtar ALI (NBP), Sajid Junaid (KESC), Shabir Khan (SSGC), Asim Khan, Tariq Aziz, Sajjad Anwar, Shafqat Rasool, Fareed Ahmad and Ibrar Haider.

Who failed to retain their places are

Goal keeper Muhammad Iqbal (Navy).

Full backs Muhammad Kamran (Steel Mills), Rao Shahid (Army), Qaiser Raza (WAPDA), Adnan Javed (PIA) and Imtiaz Panu (Punjab).

Forwards Atif Baig (Police), Noman (NWFP), Kashif Ali (Railways), Arshad (Army), Rana Javed (WAPDA), Muhammad Amin (Quetta) and Saeed Shah.

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