Pak hockey team announced amidst payment dispute

Fullback Zeeshan Ashraf was retained as captain of the squad while the selectors continued to ignore world record holder penalty corner specialist,Sohail Abbas. Pakistan is placed in Pool A of the hockey event in the games in New Delhi with champions,Australia,Malaysia and India among others. Chief selector,Hanif Khan said only those players were considered for selection who were fit and had gone to Holland for the training tour.

“Hopefully this team will try to go and wash out the bitter memories of the World Cup held in India early this year,” Hanif a former Olympian said.

Pakistan finished a worst ever 12th position in the World Cup that was won by Australia in the Indian capital. Pakistan’s disastrous showing led to the sacking of the manager and coach and also voluntarily announcement of retirements by players,which was however not accepted by the PHF President.

“We disappointed a lot of people in India with our performances in the World Cup and we want to wipe out those memories this time around in the Commonwealth Games,” Zeeshan said.

The Pakistan hockey squad will leave for Delhi on Wednesday by air after the Pakistan Olympic Association confirmed it was satisfied with the arrangements made for their players at the athletes village. The Pakistan hockey squad is coached by Dutchman Michel Van Den who was coach of the Holland team in the World Cup. Den said realistically speaking Pakistan could not be counted as favorites for the gold medal since Australia was there and other teams were also strong.

“We are not targeting the gold medal at this stage we will take it stage by stage our first priority is just to make the knockout stage,” he said.

Pakistan squad : Zeeshan Ashraf (captain),Mohammad Imran,Mohammad Irfan,Waseem Ahmed,Mohammad Rasheed,Fareed Ahmed,Shafqat Rasool,Rehan Butt,Shakeel Abbasi,Haseem Khan,Waqas Sharif,Mohammad Rizwan,Omer Bhutta,Imran Shah, Mohammad Tauseeq,Kashif Javed.

India beats England
New Delhi: Dragflicker Sandeep Singh converted two penalty corners to help India inflict a 3-1 defeat on England in their second practice match ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Beside Sandeep,Tushar Khandekar chipped in with a field goal,while Ashley Jackson sounded the board for England at the Major DhayanChand national stadium.

Last Sunday,India had defeated England by a similar margin in their first practice match. India is placed with Australia,Malaysia,Pakistan and Scotland in Group A. England,New Zealand,Canada,South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago form Group B.