LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa claimed that the Pakistan team is well-prepared for the upcoming Olympics as the 18-man squad for the Games was unveiled at the National Hockey Stadium here on Monday.

“I was in Abbottabad and saw the boys in good shape and fitness and considering their level of preparation and the induction of some senior players, this team has the potential to reach at the podium in the Olympics Games,” Asif said.

Ali Shan and Mohammad Zubair were omitted from the list of 20 probables as the squad for London was finalised.

Only 16 players will be representing the team while two players would be in London as back-up and will remain with the national side at the Olympic Village. Asif informed that goalkeeper Imran Butt would be one of the two backup players while the other would be decided in London.

Pakistan, who last won an Olympic gold in 1984, will be holding a training camp in Birmingham where they will play a game against Scotland and a local club.

The team will then leave for London where they will play a game each against Belgium (July 24) and Holland (July 26).

Squad: Goal-keepers: Imran Shah, Imran Butt. Full-backs: Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Abbas (captain), Syed Kashif Shah, Mohammad Imran.

Half-backs: Mohammad Rizwan Jr, Fareed Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Mohammad Tousiq, Waseem Ahmed.

Forwards: Mohammad Waqas (vice-captain), Shafqat Rasool, Abdul Haseem Khan, Shakeel Abbasi, Rehan Butt, Mohammad Rizwan Sr, Mohammad Umar Bhutta.

Team management: Akhtar Rasool Chaudhry (manager/head coach), Khawaja Mohammad Junaid (coach), Ajmal Khan Lodhi, Shahid Ali Khan (assistant coaches), Faiz-ur-Rahman (physiotherapist), Mohammad Nadeem Khan Lodhi (video analyst).