LAHORE As expected, Olympian Hassan Sardar has been named the new chief selector of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Meanwhile, new management for the junior team has also been announced.

As tipped, Qamar Ibrahim was named head coach of the national junior team with Danish Kaleem as coach and former 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 and former Olympian Qasim Zia said at a press conference to announce the new appointments on Thursday.

Qasim Zia also told reporters that the legendary Brig M.H. Atif would be joining the PHF as 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.

The president stated that a constitutional board would also be appointed along with a foreign consultant will be included. The PHF president, secretary, chief selector and head coaches of the senior and junior teams would also be a part of this board.

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

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.

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.