LAHORE, April 21 Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas reported to the national hockey training camp on Tuesday while three other senior players will join it within a few days.

The camp has been set up at the National Hockey Stadium for the Asia Cup to be held in Malaysia next month.

Talking to Dawn, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa, who is also the camp-commandant, said two senior players Rehan Butt and Wasim Ahmed would join the camp on Wednesday (today) while goalkeeper Salman Akbar reports on Monday.

Rehan, Wasim and Salman are currently playing league hockey in Holland.

All the four players, including Sohail Abbas, did not represent the country at the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, this month due to their assignments with the Dutch League.

Bajwa dispelled the impression that the players were not interested in playing for Pakistan and they just wanted to get their contracts with the Dutch League renewed on better packages.

“They will be playing for Pakistan in every big tournament. They all are coming to join the national team after leaving the league hockey, which is now in final stages and that show their spirit for national hockey,” Bajwa said.

He said Salman Akbar's league team coach Roelant Oltman had personally requested him to spare the goalkeeper for him till April 26 as his team needed him especially after reaching the semi-finals stage.

The PHF invited 26 probables in the camp, among which 22 has reported.

Mohammad Shabbir is yet to report at the camp.

Bajwa said the two-day trials to select the national team for the Asia Cup would be held from April 29 and after its completion, the team would be announced on April 30.

The PHF secretary added that the main focus in the camp would be to improve penalty-corner's defence, fitness and making the attack more effective.

“We should not concede too many goals on penalty-corners and the players have to make more improvement in fitness level. The effective attacks from both the wings will improve the attacking ability of the team and that all need hard work and we have set different plans to achieve the objectives,” he said.

He claimed the PHF was working on a comprehensive plan to resurrect the national hockey and he would succeed in raising a formidable team in near future.

“We have talent and potential but it will take some time to groom the players for which I am quite hopeful,” he said.

He said the PHF had a plan to play a series against England in England in June this year and it was also trying to arrange some matches against Belgium in Belgium.

Bajwa added that though the Asian Hockey Federation had allowed Pakistan to hold the Asian Champions Trophy in December, the PHF had to talk with the government to make comprehensive security arrangements for the event.

Meanwhile, Sohail Abbas said playing for Pakistan was always his first priority and that is why he left the Dutch League in midway and joined the camp.

Talking to reporters at the National Hockey Stadium, Sohail said he was there with the aim to help Pakistan win the Asia Cup.

“I am quite fit and in good form. I will try my level best to deliver in the Asia Cup,” said Sohail, who along with Wasim Ahmed had announced retirement from international hockey in 2004 after the Champions Trophy, but withdrew it this year.

Sohail shrugged off the impression that after the induction of senior players the juniors could face problems.

“After inclusion of senior players in the team the juniors will get more confidence and the team will definitely try to get good results,” he concluded.

Probables

Nasir Ahmad, Mohammad Imran, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ehsanullah, Zeeshan Ali, Sibtain Raza, Mohammad Saqlain, Rana Mohammad Asif, Fareed Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, Dilawar Hussain, Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi, Abbas Haider, Tariq Aziz, Shafqat Rasool, Akhtar Ali, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Irfan, Abdul Haseem Khan, Imran Shah and Mohammad Zubair.