KARACHI - Chief Selector Islahuddin Siddiqui has said on Tuesday that form, fitness and pure merit will be the criteria for the selection of Pakistan hockey team for Asian Games and other coming tours.
One-day trials of the team will be held in Rawalpindi on Wednesday to select 16 or 18-member squad. Other members of the selection committee included Arshad Chaudhry, Ayaz Mahmood, Khalid Bashir and Mussaddiq Hussain. "Selection Committee in consultations with chief coach ShahnazShaikh and Pakistan Hockey Federation will be making an endeavor to select the best possible combination," he told APP in an interview on his return after his trip to USA.
"There will be no preferences in selection for us for seniors and juniors and we would be going for the best combination," he pointed out. "Our objective is to put national hockey back on the track. But it gigantic task and it require long-term planning and process," the former Pakistan Captain and Olympian Islahuddin said.
He said he was in constant touch with Shahnaz Shaikh and was getting regular updates on the performances of the players in the training camp. He said PHF Chief Akhtar Rasool, Secretary Rana Mujahid and Shahnaz Shaikh are very keen to make their contribution in improving hockey team. "To be frank despite Asian Games Champion we are starting from zero, it will take few years to make them heroes," Islahuddin remarked.
He said he knows the performances of the Pakistan team players and Shahnaz's recommendations will be prime importance for the selection committee.