National U18 Hockey Team To Play Series With Oman

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th july,2016) : National Under-18 team will be playing a series with Oman scheduled to be held in Islamabad and Lahore from September 14 to 20. Talking to APP, National Under-18 team coach Muhammad Khurram Malik said the U18 hockey camp is underway here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium.

"As many as 140 players participated in the first phase of the camp. Now there are a total of 60 players in the camp after short listing," he said. He said in the coming days 40 to 45 players will be short listed and will be selected for the last phase of the camp.

"PHF officer-bearers had been paying frequent visits to the camp in order to see if the players lack in any facility," he said. He said the selected team will take part in the qualifying round of the Asia Cup scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 24 to 30.

"Prior to the qualifying round the team will play a series with Oman to be held in Islamabad and Lahore in order to prepare for the mega event," he said. Khurram said by picking players from the grass-root level and then holding a camp for them is a very good step taken by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

"Through this camp a lot of talented players will get the advantage to come to fore," he said. He also praised PHF President Brig. (R) Muhammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary Shahbaz Ahmad Sr for doing all-out efforts in reviving the national game. He further said that hockey should be made compulsory in schools and colleges saying there immense talent in the country which needs to be groomed.