The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has announced schedule of the Junior Asia Hockey Cup.
On their official website, AHF shared the schedule of the Asian event which will commence on May 23 in Oman.
As many as 10 teams will participate in the event which are divided into two pools. Pool A includes Pakistan, India, Japan, Thailand, Chinese Taipei. Whereas, pool B includes Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan will play its first match against Chinese Taipei on May 23 followed by contest against Thailand on May 24, India on May 27 and Japan on May 29.
Top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals, set to take place on May 31. The final of the event will be played on June 1.
Pakistan's preparations
As many as 47 probables are currently training in Lahore for their selection in final squad for the Asia Cup. These players were selected during open trials in Karachi and Lahore. They are currently getting trained under the supervision of junior team manager Olympian Hanif Khan.
A five-member selection committee, comprised of Olympians Nasir Ali, Rahim Khan, Shakeel Abbasi and Kalemullah Khan, in consultation with the national junior coaching staff, will announce the team after monitoring players during the camp.
Camp attendants
Goalkeepers: Ali Raza (Punjab), Muhammad Raffay (Sindh), Saif ur Rehman (Punjab), Faizan Janjua (Islamabad), Taimoor Sheikh (Sindh), Bilal (Balochistan)
Defenders: Muhammad Abdullah (MPCL), Arbaaz (MPCL), Rao Aqeel Ahmad (Wapda), M Uzair (Punjab), Bilal Aslam (Punjab), Yasir Shinwar (KPK), Arsalan Khalid (Sindh) Abdullah Nazakat (Punjab), Zohaib Ehsan (Punjab)
Midfielders: Sufyan Khan (Navy), Ehtesham Aslam (WAPDA), Arbaaz Ayaz (Sindh), Murtaza Yaqoob (WAPDA), Hamza Fayyaz (Punjab), Baqir (Punjab), Nadeem Khan (KPK), Zain Shahzad (Punjab).
Forwards: Arshad Liaquat (MPCL), Murtaza Yaqoob Jr (Punjab), Abdul Hanan Shahid (WAPDA), Abdul Rehman (WAPDA), Abdul Wahab (Sindh), Qais (Sindh), Rana Shoaib (Punjab), Rana Waleed (Punjab). ), Sultan Mehmood (Sindh), Numan Khan (Sindh), Hamad Rizwan (Sindh),Zakaria Hayat (Navy), M Adnan Ladoo (Sindh), Qayyum Dogar (Punjab), Waqar Ali (Punjab), Basharat Ali (Punjab), Bilal Akram (Punjab), Shoaib Khan (MPCL), Ahmad Raza (Punjab). ), Haseeb Masood (Punjab), Taimur Javed (Punjab), Faizan Malhi (Islamabad), Abdul Wajid (Balochistan), Murad Ali (Punjab).
Coaching staff of Pakistan junior team
Olympian Hanif Khan (manager), coaching panel - (Adnan Zakir International, Olympian Mudassar Ali Khan, Asif Ahmed Khan International, Olympian Zeeshan Ashraf, Rana Zubair (drag flickers coach), Mazhar Abbas International (goalkeepers coach).