April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

KARACHI, April 2: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday named an 18-member junior squad for the South Africa tour, giving yet another chance to some undisciplined and over-aged players.

Pakistan juniors will face South African seniors on April 17 and 18 before a five-match series against SA Under-21 on April 20, 21, 23, 25, 26.

Over-aged full-back Mohammad Atiq, who was dropped for the eight-nation tournament in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, has once again been brought back by the selectors for the series.

The defender’s inclusion is without much reason since team manager Jahangir Butt last year complained that the full-back was involved in indiscipline in the past and even during the under-18 camp for the Kenya and Egypt tour.

The official had admitted that Atiq had been promoting groupings among the players and creating disturbances at practice sessions in Faisalabad. He was later stripped of captaincy after he was found guilty of the charge.

Atiq is also an over-aged player since he has been attending junior training camps since 2002 and same is the case with captain Shafqat Rasool and Amir Shahzad who have been appearing in the camp since 2001.

Even if one considers the pair were 15 years of age when they first appeared in the national camp in 2001-2002, they should be ineligible for selection in the junior outfit today.

Goalkeeper Imran Shah, who was also chopped off the squad on previous occasion, has once again received the selectors’ nod despite misbehaving with team manager.

Imran comes in for Mohammad Khurram who had replaced the controversial player for the Malaysia event where Pakistan finished a poor fifth.

Forward Mohammad Zubair, who has been shuttling between the senior and junior camps, will again be representing the juniors. Despite being a promising forward, Zubair was dis-

carded by chief selector Islahuddin last year who accused the player of having a non-serious approach.

Another glaring omissions is of talented forward Azlan Khan who was not even called up for the camp this time. The teenager is not only a talented forward, he is equally good at penalty corner strikes.

The juniors have been faring quite ordinarily since the last year and need to show improvement in South Africa.

Squad:

Goal-keepers: Imran Shah, Imran Butt.

Full-backs: Mohammad Ateeq, Kashif Ali, Imran Abbas.

Half-backs: Mohammad Irfan, Zaheer Ahmad, Amir Shahzad, Fareed Ahmad, Khurram Shahzad, Amir Shahzad.

Forwards: Adeel Hussain, Shafqat Rasool (captain), Inyatullah, Haseem Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Zubair, Nasir Shahzad, Rizwan Ahmad, Mohammad Taufeeq.

Officials: Jahangir Butt (manager), Kamran Ashraf, Danish Kaleem (coaches).