Seasoned forward Umar Bhutta is set to lead the squad at the seventh edition of the tournament, which will be held in Malaysia next month.

The squad was named by the selection committee, headed by Hanif Khan and included Khalid Bashir and Arshad Chaudhry after three trial sessions were held at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium in Karachi, under chief coach Rana Mujahid.

A pool of 25 players featured in the trials.

Captain Umar Bhutta had already represented Pakistan senior team in several international events, along with Kashif Shah, Ali Shan, Tousiq Ahmed and Muhammad Rizwan.

“This is an important event for us and we are looking to book a berth in next year’s Junior World Cup,” Chief coach Rana Mujahid told reporters.

“We have a strong combination in presence of five senior players and we are hoping to see boys performing well to reach the final,” he said.

The Junior Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Malaysia from May 3 to 13.

Pakistan squad: Mazhar Abbas, Amjad Ali (goalkeepers) Muhammad Khalid Bhatti, Syed Kashif Shah (full-backs), M. Rizwan Jr, Kashif Javed, Muhammad Tousiq, M.Faisal Qadir, Tawasar Abbas, Zohaib Ashraf, Ammad Shakeel Butt (half-backs), Muhammad Irfan, Ali Shan, Muhammad Dilbar, Muhammad Umar Bhutta, Muhammad Suleman, Hafiz Umar Sardar, Hafiz Rizwan, Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Jaffar (forwards).

Officials: Rana Mujahid Ali (Chief Coach/Manager) Danish Kaleem, Anjum Saeed, Ahmed Alam (coaches) Syed Abuzar Umaro (vedio analyst) and Dr. Asad Abbas (doctor)

“Expectations are high from the junior team and we are hoping that they will defend Junior Asia Cup title successfully. Our young lot is very talented and they have been working very hard.” -Photo by AP (file)

KARACHI: Pakistan’s junior hockey team is confident of putting up an inspired performance at the U-18 Asia Cup which is scheduled to take place in Singapore from  17-26 June.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa believed the performances of the senior team at the 2010 Asian Games and the recently concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup would provide the ideal push for the youngsters who would be eager to emulate the national team’s success.

“Expectations are high from the junior team and we are hoping that they will defend Junior Asia Cup title successfully. Our young lot is very talented and they have been working very hard,” Bajwa told PPI.

Pakistan won the last edition of Junior Asia Cup in Yangon, Myanmar two years back.

The former Olympian said junior events like the Asia Cup were crucial for the up-and-coming players and could prove as a launching pad for many young players looking to break into the national team.

“We are working hard on the junior team as they are the future of Pakistan hockey. We believe they are the most important lot,” Bajwa said.

“They (junior players) have worked very hard and have gone through extensive training camp under our qualified coaches. They are now in good momentum and eager to display their brilliance in the event,” he said.

Meanwhile, head coach Rana Mujahid claimed his colts were fully fit and ready to show their class at the Asia Cup.

“The morale of the team is high and our side believes in victory. However, we would not take any team lightly in the event and would put our best in every match of the tournament,” the former green-shirt said.

The 18-member junior hockey team left for Singapore Tuesday night.

U18 Squad: Mazhar Abbas (Captain), Waseem Abbas, Sultan Amir, Ali Hassan Mansoor, Muhammad Sohaib, Muhammad Bilal Khan, Muhammad Usman Tanveer, Zohaib Ashraf, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Arslan Qadir, Muhammad Asad Bashir, Ali Shan, Muhammad Bilal Qadir, Khurram Shahzad, Hafiz Rizwan Ali, Muhammad
Suleman, Muhammad Sufian and Muhammad Umair -PPI