Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief selector Hanif Khan named the 18-man squad for the first Asian Hockey Champions Trophy on Thursday. The tournament would be played in China from September 3 to 11, 2011. In a press conference at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Hanif Khan announced the team along with other members of the selection committee Arshad Choudhary and Khalid Bashir after observing a day trials at the same venue. Former Olympian Hanif said that they had selected some new faces for the event and they were trying to use different combinations before the London Olympics, which was the vital focus of the PHF. “Pakistan hockey team have not won the gold medal in the Olympics after 1984 and we are willing to go London with full strength,” he said. “Senior players may come back in the team for the Olympics,” he added.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Imran Shah, Imran Butt.
Fullbacks: Muhammad Imran (captain), Muhammad Irfan, Kashif Shah.
Halfbacks: Muhammad Touseeq, Muhammad Rizwan Junior, Waseem Ahmed, Farid Ahmed, Muhammad Rashid, Kashif Javad.
Forwards: Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi (vice captain), Haseem Khan, Muhammad Rizwan Senior, Ali Shan, Shafiqat Rasool, Umer Bhutta.