Pakistan start preparation for Russia hockey event

Pakistan players will assemble in Islamabad on Saturday (tomorrow) to kick-start their preparation for the four-nation invitational hockey tournament to be held in Kazan, Russia, from August 27 to September 1. The camp will be held at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium at the Pakistan Sports Complex, with selected players instructed to report by 5 p.m. on August 15. The tournament will be held in Kazan from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, with Pakistan preparing to face international opposition as part of their build-up to future commitments. The PHF said the squad was selected on the recommendations of its Professional Development Committee and National Selection Committee. The 35 players called up include four goalkeepers, six defenders, eight midfielders and 17 forwards and strikers. Goalkeepers: Faizan Janjua, Muhammad Owais, Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Owais Rashid. Defenders: Yasir Islam, Ehsan Khan, Usman Khan, Muhammad Zain, Asad Aziz, Bilal Aslam. Midfielders/Half-backs: Abdul Hameed, Ahsan Nadeem, Samiullah, Aqeel Ahmed, Irfan Shah, Muhammad Atif, Abdul Wahab, Rehan Ali. Forwards/Strikers: Arsalan, Taha Sherwani, Sarfraz Zaheer, Owais Arshad, Sharif Khan, Muhammad Faizan, Ali Murtaza, Muhammad Bilal, Taimur Javed, Muhammad Ahmed, Danish Tariq, Ramzan Sargana, Abuzar, Abdul Yousuf, Waseem Akram, Usman Ashraf. The PHF has informed the relevant provincial associations, sports departments and service organisations about the camp and asked them to facilitate the players’ participation. Players have been instructed to bring a No Objection Certificate, passports valid for at least six months, eight passport-size photographs and their playing kits. The camp will be Pakistan’s first major step towards the Kazan tournament, where the side will seek to sharpen its preparations against international opposition.