LAHORE, May 23 Shafqat Rasool has been named captain as Pakistan Hockey Federaton's (PHF) national selection committee announced a 20-member Pakistan junior team for the Junior World Cup to be held jointly in Malaysia and Singapore from June 7 to 21.

Striker Hassan Akhtar, son of former Pakistan captain Akhtar Rasool has also made the squad although sources revealed that the selectors and coaches had some differences over Hassan's selection as head coach Khawaja Junaid was favouring centre-half Usman Tariq in his place. The coach's point of view was seriously considered in a closed-door meeting held in the morning but Hassan got the suprising nod of the selectors when the team was named in the evening. In all, 24 probables appeared for trials.

Twenty teams participating in the Cup have been divided into four pools. Pakistan are in Pool 'A' along with Argentina, Belgium, Egypt and Russia. Pool 'B' comprises Australia, Chile, Germany, Japan and South Africa. Pool 'C' is made up of England, Korea, Malaysia, Spain and USA while Pool 'D' boasts of India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and Singapore.

Pakistan will play its opening match against Russia on June 7. They face Egypt on June 8, Argentina on 11 and are to play their last match against Belgium on June 12. Pool 'A' matches will be played at Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Squad

Goalkeepers Imran Shah and Imran Butt.

Fullbacks Mohammad Ateeq, Kashif Ali and Amir Shahzad.

Halfbacks Mohammad Irfan, Fareed Ahmad, Mohammad Rashid, Mohsin Bilal, Sibtain Raza.

Forwards Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool (captain), Abdul Haseem Khan (VC), Abbas Haider, Mohammad Zubair, Inayatullah, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Taufeeq, Hassan Akhtar and Azlan Khan.

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