Pakistan hockey team set to resume training for Pro League second phase

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Following a disappointing first phase in Argentina in the FIH Pro League Pakistan hockey team is set to resume its preparation on January 5 at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad for the second phase, also involving Australia and Germany, in Hobart next month.
According to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) the camp will run from January 5 to 31.
All selected senior probables and team officials have been instructed to report to the camp commandant by 5pm on January 5.
Pakistan will play a series of crucial Pro League matches in Hobart, Australia, from February 10 to 15 where the team will face tough sides including hosts Australia and Germany. The fixtures are regarded as vital for Pakistan’s efforts to improve its standing in the world hockey rankings.
Pakistan in their first phase were mercilessly whipped in both their home and away fixtures by hosts Argentina and Netherlands in Argentina last month.
This is the first time that Pakistan have got an opportunity to showcase their skills in the major event which carries the world’s top teams. Pakistan got an opportunity to become part of the league after the FIH Nations Cup winners New Zealand withdrew due to financial constraints.
On February 10 Pakistan will face Australia in Hobart. It will be followed by their matches against Germany on February 11 and Australia on February 13. And on February 14 Pakistan will again meet Germany also at Hobart in their return leg.
In Argentina last month Pakistan were mauled by Argentina 5-1 and they then went down to the same oppositions and hosts 3-2 in their return leg. Netherlands, on the other hand, crushed Pakistan 7-3 and 5-2.
Meanwhile PHF has decided not to send national team manager Anjum Saeed on the upcoming Australia tour following an alleged breach of discipline.
Sources within the federation said the decision was taken after Anjum Saeed was accused of smoking during a flight while returning from Argentina after the first phase of the FIH Pro League. Anjum Saeed has denied the allegation.
According to sources Anjum Saeed did not return to Pakistan with the team after the Argentina leg and was stopped in Brazil. Despite the incident, he will remain part of the federation’s setup but will not travel with the team for the Australia leg.
Head coach Tahir Zaman will assume additional responsibilities as team manager and camp commandant for the Australia tour, the sources added.
PHF officials said the training camp would focus on physical conditioning, tactical drills and team combinations as part of preparations for the demanding international schedule.
“With Pakistan competing against some of the world’s best teams in the FIH Pro League, this training camp will be a key step in strengthening the squad and improving international performance,” a PHF spokesperson said.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Abdullah Ishtiaq, Muneeb-Ur Rehman, Waqar, Ali Raza, Faizan Janjua, Bilal Khan; Defenders: Sufyan Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Hamaduddin, Abdul Mannan, Imad Shakeel Butt, Usama Bashir, Arbaz Ahmed, Abubakar Mahmood; Midfielders: Moeen Shakeel, Zakariya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Arshad Liaqat, Junaid Manzoor, Salman Razaq, Nadeem Khan, Mohibullah; Forwards: Abdul Hanan Shahid, Abdul Rehman, Afraz, Rana Waheed, Rana Waleed, Ahmed Nadeem, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Qayyum, Basharat Ali, Umair Sattar, Hamza Fayyaz, Abuzar, Rafiullah.