LAHORE: Hockey legend and former chief selector Hassan Sardar was on Thursday handed the dual role of head coach and manager of the national team for the upcoming two-match series against a World XI side. Sardar, a former captain of the Green Shirts who won both the World Cup and an Olympic gold in a glittering playing career, replaces Farhat Khan in the dugout. He will be assisted by Rehan Butt and Muhammad Saqlain. Former captain and Olympian Islahuddin Siddique has been appointed the team’s chief selector – a position he has previously held. “The national federation has decided to appoint Hassan and Islahuddin as the team officials. The change in management is only for the World XI matches and will revert to the original form after the series,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said. The World XI are scheduled to play a one-match each in Karachi and Lahore during their four-day visit from January 18 to 21. The PHF sees the series as an opportunity to demonstrate that Pakistan is safe to visit and to convince international players to participate in the upcoming Pakistan Hockey League. The spokesman added that after the World XI visit ends, a foreign coach would be handling the Pakistan team. “After the World XI matches end, a foreign head coach will be hired for the Pakistan national team, who is expected to travel with the World XI team to Pakistan,” he said. Published in Daily Times, January 5th 2018.