Daily Times

LAHORE: Three-time world champions Pakistan hockey team left for Dhaka here Sunday morning to compete in the Asia Cup which runs from October 11 to 22. Pakistan take on hosts Bangladesh in the first match on the opening day before they face Japan on October 13 while their high-octane clash against arch-rivals India is slated for October 15.

The selection committee led by former Olympian Hasan Sardar, has given another chance to six players on the pretext that they performed well in the World Hockey League. They include Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan Sr, Mubashir Ali, Waqas Akbar, Mohammad Atiq and Irfan Sr.

Pakistan squad:

Mohammad Irfan Sr (captain), Rizwan Sr (vice captain), Mazhar Abbas, Amjad Ali, Atif Mushtaq, Mubashir Ali, Ammad Shakil Butt, Abu Bakar, Tassawur Abbas, Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan Jr, Arsalan Qadir, Azfar Yaqoob, Umer Bhutta, Ali Shan, M. Atiq, Waqas Akbar and Aijaz Ahmed.

Officials:

Farhat Khan (manager-cum-chief coach), Malik Shafqat, M Sarwar (coaches), Dr Atif Bashir (physio) and Abuzar (video analyst).

Pools:

A: Pakistan, India, Japan, Bangladesh

B: Malaysia, South Korea, China, Oman.

Schedule:

Oct 11: India v Japan, Pakistan v Bangladesh

Oct 12: Malaysia v China, South Korea v Oman

Oct 13: Japan v Pakistan, India v Bangladesh

Oct 14: China v Oman, South Korea v Malaysia

Oct 15: Japan v Bangladesh, Pakistan v India

Oct 16: Malaysia v Oman, China v South Korea

Oct 17: Rest Day

Oct 18: Classification matches

Oct 19: Classification matches

Oct 20: Classification matches

Oct 21: Classification matches

Oct 22: Play off for 3rd-4th position, final.

Published in Daily Times, October 9^th 2017.