Pakistan hockey team have left for India to participate in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in Chennai from August 3 to 12.
The 18-member team travelled via the Wagah Border, into Lahore’s neighbouring city Amritsar on Tuesday morning. From there, they will board a flight for Chennai via Bangalore.
The teams of Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Japan, and China are part of the tournament and all of them are in the same pool.
The Asian Champions Trophy is the last opportunity to test the skills of the players and identify their shortcomings before the Asian Games 2023 in China.
The Asian Games for the Pakistan hockey team is the most important event as far as its qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024 is concerned. Pakistan must get at least third position in the Asian Games to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Pakistan squad
Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtsham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (Vice Captain), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abdul Rahman, while the standby includes Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan and Abdul Qayyum.
Pakistan’s schedule
August 3 – vs Malaysia
August 4 – vs Korea
August 6 – vs Japan
August 7 – vs China
August 9 – vs India
