KARACHI, Sept 15: Pakistan junior hockey probables brace themselves for next month’s six-nation tournament in Egypt but without being watched by the selectors.

Although the bunch of 45 youngsters training is the future of Pakistan hockey, none of the selectors, except one, paid a single visit to the camp set up at the Pakistan Steel Mills Complex.

An 18-member squad and 10 reserves will be selected on Sept 20 for the Akhbar Al-Youm international championship starting from Oct 11 in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

Karachi-based Islahuddin Siddiqi was the sole selector who watched the probables in action for some four days along with manager Col Abdul Rauf (retd) and coach Ayaz Mahmood.

Remaining selectors, including chief selector Col S.K. Tressler (retd), the selection committee members, Abdul Rasheed Junior, Brig Khalid Khokhar, and Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan (co-opted member), haven’t seen the juniors, at all.

The camp was first started in the centre of the city at two venues — Hockey Club of Pakistan and DHA Stadium — from Sept 1, and then shifted to the present location on Sept 8.

According to Ayaz, the training of the squad resumes after the trials until Oct 7. The team departs the next day for Egypt.

The question is what purpose does the selection committee serve when the hopefuls are judged by a single selector and the team officials, who are also a part of the selection committee.

In the backdrop of harsh criticism by experts, including Olympians, on drafting over-the-hill veterans in the squad, the need to watch the young guns closely has increased manifolds.

Ironically, according to the PHF, the trials to pick the squad, will be watched by the selection committee and the hockey chief Gen Aziz Khan.

But how the selection committee can choose the right stuff when more than half of the members were never present when they were required.

The bottom line is that either the entire selection committee should observe the raw talent right from the very beginning or only the coach should be empowered to select the squad.