PHF unlikely to hold trials ahead of Korean tour

KARACHI: Pakistan’s hockey chiefs are unlikely to hold fresh trials to select a team for this month’s tour of South Korea, sources told ‘The News’ on Tuesday.
There have been reports that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will hold trials ahead of the trip but according to well-placed sources such an exercise doesn’t seem like a possibility.
Sources said that Pakistan’s hockey team will return home on Wednesday (this) morning after a long and exhaustive flight from Australia. Then they will have to leave for South Korea on May 15 to play a series of five matches there.
“There is no time for fresh trials to take place ahead of the series against the Koreans,” the source said.
Pakistan reached the final of a four-nation hockey tournament in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart and will now play a series against the Koreans to prepare for the Olympic Qualifiers for Rio 2016 to be held later this summer.
The Pakistanis are desperate for match practice and exposure as they want to make their presence felt in the Olympic Qualifiers and secure a place for the Rio Games after having missed the 2014 World Cup that took place in Holland. The Qualifiers will take place in the Belgian city of Antwerp in June.
Though Pakistan reached the final of the Hobart quadrangular their overall performance was far from satisfactory. Their only wins came against the South Koreans.
That’s why there is a possibility that the PHF might make a few changes in the squad for the series against South Korea.
“But that will depend on the report of head coach Shahnaz Sheikh. If he recommends any changes then the national selection committee might include a few reserve players in the touring party,” a source said.
When contacted chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui said that he hasn’t received any instructions from the PHF about the formation of the squad for the tour of South Korea.
A former Pakistan captain, Islahuddin told ‘The News’ that Pakistan will have to improve ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers. He added that the Green-shirts are better than most Asian teams but lag behind European sides as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Islahuddin said that Pakistan need to play challenging matches against top teams in order to improve.