KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8: Pakistan hockey captain Salman Akbar has supported the return of senior players Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and Muhammad Saqlain in the team in the larger interest of the game and the country.

“It will definitely make the Pakistan team a strong combination because they are all experienced campaigners,” he told newsmen here on Saturday after his team’s 1-4 defeat at the hands of Netherlands.

“They enjoy vast international experience and that will benefit the team,” the goalkeeper maintained. “We are definitely disappointed with our performance in Champions Trophy. It was a setback that we failed to qualify for next event in Rotterdam,” said Salman.—Agencies