KARACHI: Chief selector Hanif Khan has said that the Pakistan hockey team is showing good progress for the upcoming Champions Trophy and is likely to do well in next year’s London Olympics also.
“The team’s European trip is a training tour, so we should not be too bothered about the results,” Olympian Khan said in an interview on Tuesday.
“We are more concerned about forming a nucleus of players for the Champions Trophy and then focus on the 2012 Olympics.
“There is definitely a marked improvement in the team compared to the past but we still need to lift our performance to get in better reckoning,” he added.
“By playing against German, Dutch, England and Belgian teams, our boys are learning a lot and should benefit in a big way from the experience.”
Khan disclosed that the selectors have marked a pool of 20-25 players and will soon be holding a meeting with chief coach and manager of the team upon their return to finalise the team for the Champions Trophy.
“There will be no compromise on fitness or form,” the ex-forward of the national team maintained.
“The selectors are fully aware that some senior players have been with the team since the 2000 Sydney Olympics and we are keeping a close eye on their performance,” he noted. “If we need any replacements we will decide about them in consultation with the coach and manager.”—APP
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