LAHORE  - Shahbaz Senior-led International XI fought well against SJAL XI to beat them 5-3 in an exhibition hockey match played here at the National Hockey Stadium under floodlights on Wednesday night.
Both the teams started the match on high note and fought well against each other. But then suddenly International XI team, which was consisted of star-studded hockey Olympians and players, showed the glimpses of their golden day’s hockey and launched consecutive attacks on SJAL XI goal and succeeded in converting many of them.
The first goal of the match was netted by Irfan Senior on the pass of Khawaja Junaid in the 10th minute. Khawaja Junaid then converted second goal of his team in the 7th minute of second quarter to give his team 2-0 lead. In the 29th minute of the match, Aqeel Ahmed and Ejaz Sheikh beautifully brought the ball in the D where Rehan Butt smashed a goal fo SJAL XI to make it 2-1.
In the 35th minute of the match, Shahbaz Senior displayed superb stick work and converted a classic goal to provide 3-1 lead to his team. Just after four minutes, Qasim Khan skillfully brought the ball in the D where he dodged an army of SJAL XI and netted a goal to make it 4-1. In the dying moments of the third quarter, a beautiful move made by Mian Asghar Salimi, Ali Hashmi and M Yaqoob, Afzaal Chaudhry succeeded in throwing ball in the net to make it 4-2. In the last quarter of the mathc, both the teams succeeded in scoring one goal each – Tahir Zaman converted one for Int’l XI and Idrees Malik hit one for SJAL XI. Senior journalist Zahid Maqsood was manager of SJAL XI while Brig (r) Khalid Farani of Int’l XI.
At the concluding ceremony, chief guest Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Brig (r) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar distributed prizes among the players. The chief guest also presented a souvenir to former German team captain Michael Blunk, who also played the exhibition hockey match and brought with him sweet memories.