LAHORE, Feb 22: Tariq Aziz will lead an 18-member Pakistan junior squad announced on Saturday in the absence of two selectors and coach Ayaz Mahmood for next month’s seven-nation Akhbar Al-Youm tournament.

The squad was selected after the trials at National Hockey Stadium for the tournament to be held in Egypt from March 6 to 14.

Chairman of the selection committee Akhtar Rasool and a member Saleem Nazim watched the trials while members Hassan Sardar and Saeed Khan were not present. However, president of the PHF, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan also saw the trials.

India were sending their ‘A’ team while France, Poland, Scotland, Greece and Egypt would field their senior squads. Pakistan squad comprised Under-19 players, Akhtar claimed.

About the chief coach Ayaz who is absent from camp since day one, team manager Col Abdur Rauf said he could not say whether the Olympian would be released by his department, PIA.

However, he said Ayaz was still a part of the team management and he would accompany the team if released by PIA before team’s departure on March 3.

Pakistan play Poland in the opening match on March 6, meet arch-rivals India on March 8. The juniors then face France on March 10, Egypt (March 11), Scotland (March 12) and Greece (March 14).

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Adeel Anwar, Shakir Munir

Full-backs: Akhlaq, Tariq Yamin, Imran Warsi

Half-backs: Imran Khan, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Khalid, Aasim Khan, Sajjad

Forwards: Arif, Adnan, Yasir, Moazzam, Mahmood Ali, Tariq Aziz (captain), Rizwan, Naeem Akbar (vice-captain).

Standbyes: Mohammad Iqbal, Usman, Kashif, Irfan, Abu Bakar, Khurram Shahzad, Hafeezullah, Mustansir, Niaz, Mudassar, Waqas, Khaliq.

Officials: Col Abdur Rauf (manager), Ayaz Mahmood (coach), Asif Bajwa (assistant coach).