ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior believes national team will reach in the final of the International Hockey Festival to take place in Melbourne, Australia from November 8 to 12.
Shahbaz said Pakistan squad is a blend of young and experienced players and hopefully the team will do extremely well in the mega event. “Pakistan, hosts Australia, New Zealand and Japan will be competing in the men's event,” he said. M Irfan Sr will lead the team while Umar Bhutta will be his deputy.
The team includes Amjad Ali, Irfan, Abubakr Mahmood, Atif Mushtaq, Hassan Anwar, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Tassawar Abbas, Rizwan Junior, Arslan Qadir, Shajeeh Ahmed, Shan Irshad, Umar Bhutta, Atiq Arshad, Ajaz Ahmed, Bilal Qadir and Khizer Akhtar.
The five players, who have won selection for the national side, are Khizer Akhtar (Tando Jam, district Hyderabad), Shajeeh Ahmed (Sargodha), Hassan Anwar (Faisalabad), Bilal Qadir (Pir Mahal, district Toba Tek Singh) and Shan Irshad (Sheikhupura).