LAHORE: Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas joined the Asia Cup national training camp that started at the National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. “22 players reported on day one. Half-line Waseem Ahmad and forward Rehan Butt will report on Wednesday (today) while goalkeeper Salman Akbar will join on April 27,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) told reporters. The PHF has recalled four senior players – Sohail, Waseem, Rehan and Salman – to strengthen the squad for the 8th Asia Cup which the green shirts must win to qualify for the next year’s World Cup to be held in New Delhi, India. “The players had physical training in two sessions on the first day, while the training will also be held in floodlights from Wednesday,” the spokesman added. He said the trials to select the final team would be held on April 29-30. Talking to media, Sohail said he left the Dutch league for the Pakistan team. “Pakistan should be the top priority for every player. I am completely fit and in good form and I will try my level best to deliver in the Asia Cup,” he said. To a question, the penalty corner expert said he enjoyed playing hockey in Holland and the tough level of competition there had helped him to remain fit. Sohail said after inclusion of seniors in the team the juniors would get more confidence and the team would try to give good results in the tournament. “I think it is a good step. Gelling experience with youth will definitely produce good results in the Asia Cup,” he maintained. Sohail lamented that some former Olympians were giving ‘negative statements’ against the Pakistan team. “Such statements not only give bad name to Pakistan hockey but also have a negative impact on the team.”Camp probables: Nasir Ahmad, Mohammad Imran, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ehsan Ullah, Zeeshan Ali, Sibtain Raza, Mohammad Saqlain, Rana Mohammad Asif, Fareed Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, Dilawar Hussain, Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi, Abbas Haider, Tariq Aziz, Shafqat Rasool, Akhtar Ali, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Irfan, Abdul Haseem Khan, Imran Shah and Mohammad Zubair.Tuesday, April 21, 2009
8th Asia Cup : Penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas joins national camp
LAHORE: Penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas joined the Asia Cup national training camp that started at the National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. “22 players reported on day one. Half-line Waseem Ahmad and forward Rehan Butt will report on Wednesday (today) while goalkeeper Salman Akbar will join on April 27,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) told reporters. The PHF has recalled four senior players – Sohail, Waseem, Rehan and Salman – to strengthen the squad for the 8th Asia Cup which the green shirts must win to qualify for the next year’s World Cup to be held in New Delhi, India. “The players had physical training in two sessions on the first day, while the training will also be held in floodlights from Wednesday,” the spokesman added. He said the trials to select the final team would be held on April 29-30. Talking to media, Sohail said he left the Dutch league for the Pakistan team. “Pakistan should be the top priority for every player. I am completely fit and in good form and I will try my level best to deliver in the Asia Cup,” he said. To a question, the penalty corner expert said he enjoyed playing hockey in Holland and the tough level of competition there had helped him to remain fit. Sohail said after inclusion of seniors in the team the juniors would get more confidence and the team would try to give good results in the tournament. “I think it is a good step. Gelling experience with youth will definitely produce good results in the Asia Cup,” he maintained. Sohail lamented that some former Olympians were giving ‘negative statements’ against the Pakistan team. “Such statements not only give bad name to Pakistan hockey but also have a negative impact on the team.”Camp probables: Nasir Ahmad, Mohammad Imran, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ehsan Ullah, Zeeshan Ali, Sibtain Raza, Mohammad Saqlain, Rana Mohammad Asif, Fareed Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, Dilawar Hussain, Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi, Abbas Haider, Tariq Aziz, Shafqat Rasool, Akhtar Ali, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Irfan, Abdul Haseem Khan, Imran Shah and Mohammad Zubair.
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