LAHORE Former Olympian and coach Khwaja Junaid has been appointed as head coach of Pakistan team for the forthcoming Azlan Shah Cup in place of Shahid Ali Khan.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Executive Board has taken the decision in this connection when they met here today.

Though the PHF was struggling to find a foreign coach for the national team due to security problems in the region, it has decided to appoint Junaid for the time being since the Azlan Shah Cup is just round the corner.

The Executive Board has also decided on the other members of the national team management and on the management of national women's team.

Shahid, in whose tenure Pakistan reached three finals of international tournaments in one year including the one played in France through which Pakistan qualified for the World Cup, was relieved from his post after Zeeshan Ashraf's men finished last in the mega event in New Delhi.

The entire national team also resigned from the international hockey following the World Cup debacle. However, later they withdrew their resignations on the advise of PHF President Qasim Zia.

Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, however, is still sticking to his decision of retirement from international hockey but sources said that PHF secretary Asif Bajwa will try to convince Zeeshan to change his mind in a meeting in Karachi during the ongoing National Championship.