LAHORE, June 6: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has summoned its executive board meeting on Thursday to discuss whether the senior players be drafted back into the national team after the disnmal show in Azlan Shah Cup where Pakistan finished at the bottom in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Four senior players — Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Waseem Ahmad and Zeeshan Ashraf — whose appeals against the cash fines imposed on them by the PHF disciplinary committee for featuring in the controversial World Series Hockey in India, have also been directed to appear before President Qasim Zia on Thursday.

“The PHF has summoned the meeting of the executive board to discuss the various points relating to the team’s performance in the Azlan Shah Cup and to form a new strategy for the London Olympics,” PHF secretary Asif Bajwa announced while refusing to entertain any questions from the media.

“Though there will be no major changes for the London Olympics, where it deems necessary, the executive board will take the decision,” he said. “The EB will also hear the appeals of the four senior players, whose appeals against the cash penalties have been received by the PHF president,” Bajwa said.

Earlier on Wednesday, head coach Akhtar Rasool and coach Khawaja Junaid met Qasim Zia and briefed him about the reasons behind five successive defeats in the Azlan Shah Cup.

After the briefing, the PHF president decided to take into confidence its executive board before taking any final decision on the Olympics squad.

Sources close to the team management said among the seniors, the chances of former captain Shakeel Abbasi and Mohammad Imran making comebacks were quite bright.

“The selection committee and the team management will attend the executive board meeting and their opinion will be given priority,” a key official of the PHF told Dawn.

Meanwhile, the PHF is likely to name a team on Thursday which will be touring Europe from June 9 to play four matches against different teams as part of Olympics preparation. Pakistan will be playing two matches against Germany and one each against Belgium and Holland.