LAHORE, Nov 14: Two new faces — Kashif Ahmed and Mohammad Atiq — emerged in Pakistan hockey as the team management on Wednesday named an 18-member squad for the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy tournament to be held in Melbourne from Dec 1.

“It is the most suitable combination of players selected from the 27 camp probables. We have included two uncapped players in the squad, keeping in view our preparations for the 2014 World Cup,” said Akhtar Rasool, head coach-cum-manager of the team, while announcing the squad here at a news conference.

He said Kashif would strengthen the forward line and Atiq would reinforce the defence as full-back.

The team management has appointed full-back Mohammad Imran as captain of the team which also has the services of veteran defender Wasim Ahmed who was part of the London Olympics.

The Melbourne Champions Trophy contest other than Pakistan includes Australia, Olympic champions Germany, Britain, Holland, India, Belgium and New Zealand.

Prior to their participation in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan will also feature in a nine-a-side tournament also featuring hosts Australia, England and India. The event is scheduled to be staged in Perth from Nov 22 to 25.

“We have selected the team purely on merit and we seek Allah’s help for improving the team’s performance during the two hockey assignments in Australia,” he added.

The head coach insisted participation in the Champions Trophy was crucial for Pakistan in order to improve their ranking.

“We will be going all out [to produce a better show] for improving our [current] number seven ranking to number four or five; and if we do so it will be a big accomplishment,” he asserted.

The team management was under heavy load of responsibility as it was also performing the duties of the selection committee, Akhtar said.

“Our aim is to inspire our boys to a level from where they can strike their peak during the Champions Trophy while improving their ranking in the process,” he emphasised. “The task is tough amid presence of world’s top eight teams [in the Champions Trophy] but achievable as Pakistan team is full of talent and potential.

Akhtar highlighted the significance of matches against the Aussies in their backyard.

“We will be playing world champions Australia in two important tournaments after the Olympics. To achieve certain goals we will be looking for a team combination capable of producing good results.”

Meanwhile, team coach and Olympian Hanif Khan said the team management could not bring wholesale changes in the team due to time constraint after their participation in the London Olympics.

“The team management is striving to bring overall improvement in the team’s performance. [For this purpose] we have introduced two new players [Kashif and Atiq] in the national squad.

After the tour of Australia we will be working on our plans to make changes in the side focusing on our future needs,” he elaborated.

“Before taking up [the job of] coaching of the team I was a selector and I think both the jobs carry great responsibility. And I’ll try my best to do justice for giving my contribution as coach,” Hanif remarked.

Squad: Imran Shah, Imran Butt, Mohammad Imran (captain), Waqas Sharif (vice-captain), Wasim Ahmed, Mohammad Rashid, Farid Ahmed, Mohammad Umar Bhutta, Shafqat Rasool, Shakeel Abbasi, Kashif Shah, Mohammad Atiq, Rizwan Junior, Touseeq Ahmed, Haseem Khan, Rizwan Sr, Ali Shan, Kashif Ahmed.—APP