The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief selector Hanif Khan and chief coach Rana Mujahid believe that the junior team has the capacity to beat any opponent but all they require an experience and exposure at the international level.
Talking to journalists here on the occasion of the announcement of the junior team for the Egypt series, Hanif Khan said the Pakistan hockey is going through a rebuilding phase and winning and losing are part of the game. “The boys have the potential but all they need is exposure and the Egypt series is a part of that initiative taken by the PHF,” he maintained.
Similar were the views of team coach, Rana Mujahid. He pointed out the lose in the semi-final of the Singapore event was a learning experience for these juniors and the Egypt series would provide them the experience they need before the big events they are being groomed. Pakistan junior captain Muhammad Umar Bhutta believed that the Singapore tournament did not give them time to experiment and they were now going to play a series against Egypt and it would give us enough time to develop different combinations.
The trials to select the final lineup of 18 players for the Egypt series were held on July 28 and 29 at National Hockey Stadium Lahore. National Selection Committee Chairman Abdul Hanif Khan with the approval of PHF president has finalised the following junior hockey contingent for five-test match series against Egyptian hockey team from August 6 to 12.
The team
Goalkeeper: Mazhar Abbas
Fullbacks: Muhammad Khalid, Aleem Bilal, Muhammad Mushtaq and Waseem Abbas
Halfbacks: M Kashif Javed, Muhammad Rizwan (Vice-Capt), Tasawwar Abbas, Muhammad Suleman and Zohaib Ashraf
Forwards: M Irfan, M Umar Bhutta (Captain), Arslan Qadir, Ali Shan, Muhammad Adnan Anwar, Rana Umair,
M Dilber and Ahmed Zubair.
Team officials: Team Manager/Head Coach: Rana Mujahid Ali
Coaches: Danish Kaleem and Anjum Saeed
Team Doctor: Asad Abbas Shah.
The junior team will depart for Cairo on August 4 and return on August 13.
schedule of the series:
Saturday, August 6: 1st, Pakistan v Egypt
Sunday, August 7: 2nd, Pakistan vs. Egypt
Monday, August 8: Rest day
Tuesday, August 9: 3rd, Pakistan v Egypt
Wednesday, August 10: 4th, Pakistan v Egypt
Thursday, August 11: Rest day
Friday, August 12: 5th, Pakistan v Egypt
