Shakeel Abbasi (right)The National Selection Committee of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced the selection of 18 players for the 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament.
President of the PHF Qasim Zia, Secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa, Chairman of the Selection Committee Hassan Sardar, members Rana Mujahid Ali, Khalid Bashir, Farhat Khan, Muhammad Shafiq and Coach Shahid Ali Khan observed the trials at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore.
Full Back Zeeshan Ashraf named as captain and Muhammad Imran vice captain. The announced players are Goal Keeper Nasir Ahmad, Full Backs Muhammad Imran, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ehsan Ullah, Halves Zeeshan Ali, Sibtain Raza, Muhammad Saqlain, Rana Asif, Fareed Ahmad, Sajjad Anwar, Dilawar Bhatti, Forwards Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi, Shabir Khan, Abbas Haider, Tariq Aziz, Shafqat Rasool and Akhtar Ali.
The Azlan Shah tournament will be held from 5-12 April in Ipoh, Malaysia. Pakistan, Malaysia, India, New Zealand and Egypt will take part in the tournament. Pakistan will play its first match against Malaysia on 5 April, second match against New Zealand on 6 April, third match against Egypt on 9 April and last pool match against India on 11 April, while the final and position matches will be played on 12 April.
