Pakistan hockey chief selector Mohammad Hanif Khan, named the 18-member squad that will compete in the upcoming FIH Champions Trophy set to be played in Auckland, New Zealand, from December 3 to 11. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) reposed its confidence in Mohammad Imran as the skipper of the national team for Pakistan’s most important assignment of the year. Mohammad Imran was replaced with Shakeel Abbasi as the team captain, who led the greenshirts in the recently concluded Australian tour. The ill-health of Imran forced the federation to choose Abbasi as the skipper of the national team. The Greenshirts, under the captaincy of Abbasi, displayed a stunning performance in the finals of the three-nation tournament, defeating the world’s number one team, Australia. In the meantime, Salman Akbar, a seasoned goalie, was also called back in the national team, after missing the Australian trip. He was playing in a Dutch Club for the season, and therefore, he was ruled out for the Australian tour. Muhammad Irfan Junior and Umar Bhutta were not considered due to their below-par performances. Hanif said that the Pakistan hockey team was capable of knocking down any team in the world. He observed, “I hope the team will spring positive results in the Champions Trophy”. Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan stated that the Greenshirts gave outstanding performances in the recent past. In his view, Salman Akbar’s comeback will assist the national team to earn fruitful results. Pakistan is clubbed alongside Spain, Great Britain and the world’s number one, Australia, in Pool A while Pool B is comprised of South Korea, Netherlands, Germany and the host, New Zealand. The Pakistan’s team comprises Mohammad Imran, Salman Akbar, Imran Shah, Kashif Shah, Muhammad Irfan, Shafqat Rasool, Muhammad Rizwan, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tauseeq, Waqas Shariq, Shakeel Abbasi, Abdul Haseem Khan, Muhammad Rizwan Senior, Muhammad Zubair and Ali Shan.
