Trials to be held for hockey training camp: Islahuddin

KARACHI: Chief selector of national hockey team Islahuddin has said that trials would be conducted for the selection of the participants of next training camp of national hockey team.
The performance of three domestic hockey tournaments would also be considered for the national training camp, he said.
The training camp will be held in Islamabad in the middle of March for preparation of qualifying rounds of Rio Olympics 2016.
Islah told ‘The News’ on Wednesday that the performance of national hockey championship, COAS hockey championship and Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup would also be considered.
He said that at least one of the selection committee members would be present in every domestic tournament and prepare a report about the players’ performances.
“Since the PHF has revised its hockey planning and activities, we have been successful in forming a pool of around 650 players of senior and junior level across the country through trials.
He said the qualifying rounds are one of the hardest assignments for Pakistan. “We are out of the Olympics and have to play qualifying rounds. There is no option but rigorous training as we did before the Asian Games and Champions Trophy,” he said.
Islah said that PHF would decide when and where the trials would be held. “We have completed our work. We will have to see the form and fitness of the players and consult with the chief coach who is also a member of the selection committee,” he said.
He said that those players who played well in the Champions Trophy and three domestic hockey tournaments would have to play well in the trials and show their form and fitness for selection.
He said that trials would be held for two days so that each and every aspect could be observed.
The chief selector said the Green-shirts after getting rigorous training would need maximum international matches.
He said that the team must play Sultan Azlan Shah tournament because European teams would also participate in it.
He hoped the federal government would release the expected funds and grants for PHF so that national team’s preparation was not hampered and they could go on foreign tours for playing against tough rivals before the qualifying rounds in Belgium in June.