LAHORE: Pakistan’s participation in the Junior World Cup Hockey, set to be held in India in December this year, depends on clearance from the federal government, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Shahbaz Senior told reporters here on Friday.
Shahbaz said the PHF was already in contact with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to seek clearance from the government.
Amid political tensions between the two neighbouring countries, Shahbaz said, the approval of the federal government for sending the national team across the border was important.
However, the former Olympian believed the World Cup was a big event and the PHF is focused on the team’s preparation anyhow.
The Pakistan kabaddi team was barred from the World Cup which begins later this week.
Meanwhile, Shahbaz said due to poor conditions of the hockey turf at the National Hockey Stadium, all the three matches between the Pakistan Senior and Junior teams had been shifted to the Johar Town Stadium, Lahore.
The matches will be held from October 8.
After the series, both the senior and junior teams will be finalised to participate in different international events.
The seniors are eyeing to defend their title in the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy kicking off in Malaysia on October 20, while the juniors look to shine in the World Cup.
Moreover, Pakistan junior coach Tahir Zaman informed that the list of probables, attending the Junior camp at Johar Stadium, after the approval of the chief selector Rashid Junior, had been reduced to 26 from 35.
After the three-match series against the seniors, the camp will resumed at the Johar Stadium from October 14.
PROBABLES:
Goalkeepers:Ali Raza, Talal Khalid,Muneeb-ur-Rehman.
Full backs: Atif Mushtaq, Hussain Anwar, Mubashar Ali, Zahidullah.
Half Backs: Abu Bakar Mahmood, Faizan, Junaid Kamal, M.Usman, Tazeemul Hasan, M.Adnan and Ammad Shakeel Butt.
Forwards: Shan Irshad, Azfar Yaqoob, M.Dilber, M.Atiq, Bilal Qadir, Mohsin Sabir, Rana Sohail Riaz, Samiullah, M.Rizwan, M.Naveed, Fahadullah Khan and Umar Hamdi.
SHAHBAZ HAILS ‘TREMENDOUS BOOST’
PHF efforts to solve financial problems of hockey players have yielded results as more than 70 players are going to get jobs in different departments.
“This will be a tremendous boost for our hockey. The players will now be able to fully concentrate on their game,” Shahbaz Senior told APP.
“Soon after assuming the charge we initiated a comprehensive plan for revival of national game. Ensuring job for players is a part of our plan. We’ve got success as initially four departments have agreed to provide employment to promising players.
“The credit for that goes to PHF President Brig. (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, who himself has been contacting departments to secure future of hockey players through jobs,” he added.
Shahbaz informed that so far four departments — Fauji Foundation, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd. (ZTBL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had agreed to provide employment to players.
“Each department will provide job to 18-19 players. We are thankful to them for contributing in the rebuilding process of national game,” he said.
He said jobless players, who fell in the age bracket of 18-27 and had attended some national camps at the senior or junior level, had been asked to submit their applications to the PHF.
All these players would get handsome salaries, whereas those who had represented the country at the international level would get even higher packages.
“The federation will present complete bio data of interested players to the departments. We’ve asked the desirous players to send their applications before October 20, so that we can forward their case to the departments concerned in time,” Shahbaz added.
Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2016