3 players show-caused named in Pakistan squad for Azlan Shah

Karachi, Apr 28 (PTI) Pakistan Hockey Federation today picked three senior players in the squad for the Azlan Shah Cup, who were earlier show-caused for having entered into contracts with the non-sanctioned World Hockey Series planned in India. The three players -- Shakeel Abbasi, Wasim Ahmed and Rehan Butt -- all made it to the squad after they informed the PHF in writing that they had nothing to do with the World Hockey Series and had made no commitments with the planned event. The PHF last week issued notices and warnings to top players to avoid getting involved in the proposed WHS or face a total ban from Pakistan hockey. Except for captain Zeeshan Ashraf, who did not make himself available for the Azlan Shah Cup, the PHF selectors have retained most of the players who were members of the team that won the Asian Games gold medal in China last November. Muhammad Imran (senior) has been named as the new captain of the team for the Azlan Shah Cup. The other members include Shakeel Abbasi, Imran Shah, Syed Kashif Shah, Sohail Abbas, Muhammad Rizwan (Junior), Waseem Ahmed, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tousiq, Waqas Sharif, Rehan Butt, Muhammad Rizwan Senior, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Imran Junior, Abdul Haseem Khan, Waqas Akbar and Muhammad Umar Bhutta. Khawaja Muhammad Junaid will be the team manager while Dutch Michel Van Den is the coach assisted by Shahid Ali Khan and Ajmal Khan Lodhi. The 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will take place from May 1-15 in Ipoh, Malaysia. Seven teams -- Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Australia, Korea, New Zealand and Great Britain -- will take part in the tournament.