LAHORE, Oct 23: As was expected Olympian Hassan Sardar has been named the new chief selector of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) but as the two great Olympians Manzoor Junior and Shahbaz Senior could not offer their availability for the post of senior coach, the federation has only announced the management for its junior team.

Farhat Khan, Rana Mujahid, Mohammad Shafiq and Khalid Bashir are also included as members of the selection committee to assist Hassan.

As tipped, Qamar Ibrahim was named head coach of the national junior team with Danish Kaleem as coach and former goalkeeper/captain Ahmed Alam assistant coach.

“All the appointments happen to be paid jobs as I want the officials to be able to give the game proper time in order for hockey to achieve its national target,” President PHF former Olympian Qasim Zia said at a press conference to announce the new appointments on Thursday.

While announcing more appointments, Qasim said that the legendary Brig (retd) M.H. Atif would be an advisor. Similarly, three senior Olympians and captains Islahuddin Siddiqi, Akhtar Rasool and Shahbaz Sr have also been included in the executive board to fill the posts of the three technocrats. Akhtar’s appointment, however, was surprising since he has been banned by the Supreme Court from holding any office-bearer’s post in its decision of the case of attack on the Supreme Court building back in late 1990s.

Moreover, PHF president said that a constitutional board would also work in which a foreign consultant will be included. PHF president, secretary, chief selector and head coaches of the senior and junior teams would also be a part of it.

It would also prepare a hockey syllabus and decide which type of hockey Pakistan should play to earn back its lost glory.

About Shahbaz Sr, Qasim said he was not available. He did not really refuse anything.

“The PHF did not offer any specific post to Shahbaz. In fact, I spoke to him and the others to make their availability known to the PHF. But Shahbaz was of the view that as he had just returned to Pakistan after performing duties in Saudi Arabia for PIA, he wanted to be settle down with his the family first,” Qasim said.

So as there were no immediate assignments for the senior team, the PHF decided to delay appointing the team management.

Meanwhile, the junior team’s first assignment, according to Qasim, is to play a five-match home series against India, which will be held from Nov 12 to 20.

In order to select the national team, two-day trials will be held at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) in Karachi on Oct 26 and 27 to be followed by a training camp.

India will play the first match at Karachi on Nov 12, the second at Rawalpindi on Nov 14, Faisalabad on Nov 16, Sialkot on Nov 18 and Lahore on Nov 20.

Meanwhile, Hassan Sardar has said that the chief selector’s job is a challenging task for him and he would try his level best to deliver.

“The new PHF management chalked out a comprehensive programme and I believe it will click with our joint efforts,” he said.

Hassan said that hockey would be his first priority as chief selector and he would spare time for it.

Qamar Ibrahim said his target was the next 9th Junior World Cup to be held in Singapore in June.

“It is a challenging task but I accepted it after giving it much thought,” he said.

Meanwhile, Qasim said the selectors would have to watch at least one-third of the training camp in order to assess the real potential of the players.