The National hockey trials are scheduled to be held at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) Stadium from 2:30 pm onwards here today. Tariq Kirmani, President, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and newly appointed Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will witness the trials. The PHF Selection Committee is chaired by former Olympian Akhtar Rasool and comprise former Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui, Shahnaz Sheikh, Hassan Sardar and international Saeed Khan. The PHF Secretary Brigadier Masaratullah Khan (Retd) and Team Manager former Olympian Samiullah are the co-opted members.
At the conclusion of the trials the selectors will hold a meeting to pick an 18-man squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament to be staged in Malaysia from May 26 to June 4.
Six countries will be participating in the tournament namely Pakistan, India, Australia, Germany, South Korea and host Malaysia.
As is customary, at the conclusion of the trials, the PHF Selection Committee will meet to finalise the names of the players and will then hand over the list to Tariq Kirmani, for his approval in his capacity as the PHF President.
The PHF President is also expected to announce a number of far reaching decisions on Sunday.
The team management comprises former Olympians Samiullah (Manager), Asif Bajwa (Coach) and Rana Mujahid Ali (Assistant Coach). Former Olympian Mohammad Shahbaz Junior and former international Jan Mohammad are assisting the senior team management at the national camp.
A clutch of 26 probables currently undergoing camp training would be vying for a place to board the flight to Kuala Lumpur on May 23.