KARACHI, May 3 Led by Zeeshan Ashraf, an 18-member Pakistan hockey squad is due to leave for Kuantan, Malaysia, on Monday night to feature in the Asia Cup.

The eight-team contest begins on May 9. Pakistan will face China on the first day of the event.

Pakistan will play two practice matches before start of the Asia Cup, first against hosts Malaysia on May 5 and the second against Japan on May 7.

“These practice matches will help us analyse performance and fitness of the players ahead of the continental event,” Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa said on the eve of squad's departure.

The PHF selection committee headed by former Olympian Hasan Sardar included veteran quartet of goalkeeper Salman Akbar, fullback Sohail Abbas, halfback Waseem Ahmed and forward Rehan Butt in the squad.

“Our team is a blend of youth and experience and it was high time for the players to bring the game back on the track,” he said.

Bajwa, who is going with the squad as manager, however said that Pakistan also needed the element of luck.

“We did not play that badly in the Azlan Shah Cup last month but ended up fourth in the five-team contest,” he said.

“We finished disappointing sixth in the previous Asia Cup in Chennai and our mission is to improve our standing. Our basic aim is to prepare the team for next year's Asian Games in Ghanzhou, China,” he maintained.

He said Pakistan finished worst-ever eighth at the Beijing Olympics last August, therefore reviving the game was not easy.

“We are fully aware of the weaknesses which we observed during our last assignment [the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia],” he added.

“The PHF is making sincere efforts to improve the standard of the game but under current scenario it was difficult to predict anything,” he pointed out.

“My advice to the players is to deliver their best, show commitment and fighting spirit, and bring honour and glory to the country.

“Our job is to motivate the team and they must produce their best on the pitch,” the former Olympian concluded.

Squad

Salman Akbar (goalkeeper); Zeeshan Ashraf (captain), Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Imran (fullbacks); Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Saqlain, Fareed Ahmad, Dilawar Hussain, Sajjad Anwar, Waseem Ahmad (halves); Rehan Butt, Waqas Sharif, Tariq Aziz, Abdul Haseem Khan, Shakeel Abbasi, Abbas Haider, Shafqat Rasool, Akhtar Ali (forwards).

Officials

Asif Bajwa (manager); Shahid Ali Khan and Kamran Ashraf (coaches); Faiz-ur-Rehman (physio); Nadeem Khan Lodhi (video analyst).—APP