Zeeshan Ashraf set to skipper Pakistan

By Khalid Hussain

KARACHI: Seasoned defender Zeeshan Ashraf is all set to return as Pakistan captain in the five-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Malaysia in April, writes Khalid Hussain.
Sources told ‘The News’ that when Pakistan will select their 18-man squad for the Azlan Shah Cup in the second half of March, Zeeshan is most likely to get a recall as captain.
The Quetta-based Zeeshan, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Saturday (tomorrow), led Pakistan in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing last August but was ‘rested’ for the four-nation Hamburg Masters in Germany — Pakistan’s last international assignment. Striker Shakeel Abbasi was appointed as captain for the Hamburg quadrangular last October.
Zeeshan was included in a list of 40 odd players selected in the preliminary squad for the Azlan Shah Cup to be played in Ipoh from April 6-12.
He is one of the senior most players in the pool and is all set to be recalled in the national team that will be selected after trials next month.
Also in contention for captaincy are former skipper Muhamnmad Saqlain, who has impressed team officials with his fitness during the ongoing camp.
However, Saqlain is infamous for his temperamental nature and it is more likely that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will opt for Zeeshan as the Pakistan captain for the Malaysian tour.
Former champions Pakistan will join New Zealand (world No 7), India (11th), Malaysia (15) and Egypt (20th) in the Azlan Shah Cup. They will open their title campaign with a match against hosts Malaysia on April 6.
The provisional squad for the Ipoh assignment is currently preparing for the tournament at the National Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan told ‘The News’ on Thursday that he and fellow coaches are working hard on helping the players improve their fitness during the ongoing conditioning camp.
He said that most of the 38 players currently attending the camp are undergoing strenuous training sessions and hoped that Pakistan will be able to raise a strong team for the Ipoh contest.
A total of 42 players were picked in the provisional squad but four senior players are unavailable for the Azlan Shah Cup because of their club commitments in The Netherlands. Drag flick ace Sohail Abbas, striker Rehan Butt, midfielder Waseem Ahmed and goal-keeper Salman Akber have been exempted from the training camp and the Ipoh assignment by the PHF.
Pakistan have decided to use the Azlan Shah Cup as a warm-up event for this May’s Asia Cup to be held in Dubai.
The Asia Cup to be played from May 8-15 will serve as the qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in India. The new Asia Cup winners will earn a direct spot for the quadrennial spectacle.
“Our sights are set on the Asia Cup and all our planning is being carried out in a way that we take a team to Dubai that is good enough to win the title,” said Shahid, a former Olympian.