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KARACHI: Ten months after discarding Mohammad Imran as spent force, Pakistan’s hockey authorities have once again pinned hopes on the defender by installing him as national captain for a couple of international events in Australia including the prestigious Champions Trophy.
Imran, who was sacked as captain and dropped from the national team after Pakistan flopped miserably at the 2011 Champions Trophy in Auckland, was given the captaincy armband ahead of the senior duo of Waseem Ahmed and Shakeel Abbasi.
Having overlooked Sohail Abbas, who captained Pakistan at the London Games last summer, it seemed that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) might consider either Waseem or Abbasi for national captaincy. But while the duo was picked for the tour Down Under, PHF didn’t think they were suitable candidates for the job.
Pakistan would feature in a Nine-a-Side tournament in Perth to be held from November 22 to 25 before competing in the Champions Trophy to be played in Melbourne from December 1 to 9. After overlooking Sohail Abbas and striker Rehan Butt, the national team management has put faith in two rookies — Mohammad Ateeq (defender) and Mohammad Kashif — (forward) for the two tournaments in Australia.
Akhtar Rasool, the team’s head coach, said that the induction of Ateeq and Kashif triggers the start of a rebuilding exercise.“We will rebuild the team slowly,” said Akhtar, a former Pakistan captain. “We would not be looking for shortcuts because our aim is to prepare a strong team for World Cup 2014,” he added.
Pakistan squad
Goalkeepers: Imran Shah, Imran Butt
Defenders: Mohammad Imran (captain), Mohammad Ateeq, Syed Kashif Shah
Midfielders: Waseem Ahmad, Mohammad Tousiq, Fareed Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Muhammad Rizwan Junior
Forwards: Mohammad Waqas (Vice-Capt), Shafqat Rasool, M Umar Bhutta, Abdul Haseem Khan, Shakeel Abbasi, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan Senior, Ali Shan.
Officials: Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary (Manager/Head Coach), Hanif Khan (Coach), Ajmal Khan Lodhi, Ahmed Alam (Assistant Coaches), Faizur-Rahman (Physiotherapist) Nadeem Khan (Video-Analyst).
Imran, who was sacked as captain and dropped from the national team after Pakistan flopped miserably at the 2011 Champions Trophy in Auckland, was given the captaincy armband ahead of the senior duo of Waseem Ahmed and Shakeel Abbasi.
Having overlooked Sohail Abbas, who captained Pakistan at the London Games last summer, it seemed that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) might consider either Waseem or Abbasi for national captaincy. But while the duo was picked for the tour Down Under, PHF didn’t think they were suitable candidates for the job.
Pakistan would feature in a Nine-a-Side tournament in Perth to be held from November 22 to 25 before competing in the Champions Trophy to be played in Melbourne from December 1 to 9. After overlooking Sohail Abbas and striker Rehan Butt, the national team management has put faith in two rookies — Mohammad Ateeq (defender) and Mohammad Kashif — (forward) for the two tournaments in Australia.
Akhtar Rasool, the team’s head coach, said that the induction of Ateeq and Kashif triggers the start of a rebuilding exercise.“We will rebuild the team slowly,” said Akhtar, a former Pakistan captain. “We would not be looking for shortcuts because our aim is to prepare a strong team for World Cup 2014,” he added.
Pakistan squad
Goalkeepers: Imran Shah, Imran Butt
Defenders: Mohammad Imran (captain), Mohammad Ateeq, Syed Kashif Shah
Midfielders: Waseem Ahmad, Mohammad Tousiq, Fareed Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Muhammad Rizwan Junior
Forwards: Mohammad Waqas (Vice-Capt), Shafqat Rasool, M Umar Bhutta, Abdul Haseem Khan, Shakeel Abbasi, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan Senior, Ali Shan.
Officials: Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary (Manager/Head Coach), Hanif Khan (Coach), Ajmal Khan Lodhi, Ahmed Alam (Assistant Coaches), Faizur-Rahman (Physiotherapist) Nadeem Khan (Video-Analyst).
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