KARACHI, April 18 The newly-formed Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee headed by Olympian Hanif Khan with Olympian Mohammad Usman, Arshad Chaudhry and Musadaq Hussain carried out their first official duty by announcing a list of 33 probables for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament to be held from May 6 to 16 in Ipoh, Malaysia.

The probables were announced at the conclusion of the 57th National Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) on Sunday.

All the players of the national team who played in last month's World Cup where Pakistan finished at the bottom except for goalkeeper Salman Akbar have been included in the list.

“Salman has shown his unavailability for the camp as he is playing league hockey abroad,” said PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa. “But we have Nasir Ahmed and two other goalkeepers in Imran Shah and Imran Butt,” he added.

“There will be two goalkeepers in the final team but they are all very good choices made by the selection committee. As you know Imran Shah was just named the best goalkeeper as well as best player of the national championship,” he said.

Bajwa also disclosed to Dawn that there may be some noteworthy changes in the national squad when the team is announced after the final trials on April 28.

“Some of our senior boys have made a special request to me to be allowed some rest,” he informed.

The senior players, namely, Rehan Butt, Akhtar Ali, Waseem Ahmed and Zeeshan Ashraf, have nevertheless been included in the probable list.

“Well, yes they are there for now as they just approached me about this. I have yet to forward their request to our President Qasim Zia before we decide what to do about them,” Bajwa said.

When asked if they didn't want to play due to the rather emotional retirement decision, which they made soon after the World Cup debacle in India, Bajwa said “No, we never accepted their retirements and resignations. I think they just want to take a little break. On the other hand, I'm glad that Sohail Abbas has shown his willingness to keep playing.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Selection Committee Hanif Khan said that the players were picked on merit and with the consent of the new team coach/manager Olympian Khawaja Junaid.

“I have picked the best players from the national championship,” he said.

When asked about the presence of all the World Cup team members, he said “Well, I had already said that there was nothing wrong with the boys. They are all good players and with proper guidance from Khawaja Junaid, I hope they will bounce back in the coming events.”

The new national team coach and manager, Olympian Khawaja Junaid, has also shown his complete satisfaction over the selection of probables.

“I was concerned that they may only name the known players. But I am glad to find that they have also picked some new boys like Mohammad Tauseeq, Abdul Qayyum Dogar and Mohammad Bilal. Then there are also some other noteworthy additions from the Pakistan Whites team that won the South Asian Games hockey title earlier this year,” he added.

When asked if he would have a definite say in the final team selection after getting a chance to watch them during camp, the Olympian said “Sure, the PHF has given me a freehand but I also don't want to start interfering in the selection right away as they, too, understand the huge responsibility on their shoulders and should be allowed to play their role, as well.”

The camp begins from April 22, the final trials and team announcement will take place on April 28 and the team leaves for Malaysia on May 2.

Besides Pakistan and hosts Malaysia, the other teams featuring in the tournament are Australia, China, Egypt, Korea and India.

Probables

Goalkeepers Nasir Ahmed (PIA), Imran Shah (HBL) and Imran Butt (PIA).

Fullbacks Zeeshan Ashraf (NBP), Sohail Abbas (Wapda), Mohammad Imran (Army), Wasif Siddiqui (NBP), Kashif Ali (PIA) and Mohammad Ateeq (NBP).

Halfbacks Waseem Ahmed (Wapda), Mohammad Irfan (PIA), Farid Ahmed (HBL), Mohammad Rashid (Navy), Sajjad Anwar (Wapda), Mohammad Tauseeq (NBP), Aamir Shahzad (PIA), Usman Tariq (SSGC), Zaheer Ahmed (PIA) and Zeeshan Ali (HBL).

Forwards Rehan Butt (Wapda), Shakeel Abbasi (SSGC), Akhtar Ali (NBP), Mohammad Zubair (PIA), Haseem Khan (NBP), Mohammad Rizwan (Army), Umar Bhutta (HBL), Waqas Sharif (Wapda), Shafqat Rasool (PIA), Mohammad Bilal (KESC), Adeel Hussain (HBL), Kashif Ali (Army).