The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)’s president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar thanked Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for issuing No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the national team for Asian Hockey Champions Trophy.
The Asian event is scheduled in Chennai, India from August 3 to 12. Pakistan team will leave for the event on August 1.
“I would like to thank IPC minister and DG PSB for issuing NOC to the national team,” said the PHF chief.
“Our boys have prepared well for the event and I hope they would make everyone proud with their performance in the Asian Champions Trophy,” he added.
The national team will travel to the neighbouring country via Wagah Border. They will travel to Chennai from Amritsar by road.
Three officials of the Pakistan team are still waiting for the visa. The newly appointed head coach Shahnaz Sheikh is also facing issues with getting visa on time.
Pakistan are scheduled to play their first match against Malaysia on August 3. The green shirts will lock horns with arch-rivals India on August 9.
Squad
Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtsham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (Vice Captain), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abdul Rahman, while the standby includes Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan and Abdul Qayyum.
Pakistan’s schedule
August 3 – vs Malaysia
August 4 – vs Korea
August 6 – vs Japan
August 7 – vs China
August 9 – vs India
