Pakistan U-18 Hockey Trials Phase-I Completed

Pakistan’s Under-18 hockey team selection process has moved forward as the first phase of trials wrapped up in Islamabad, setting the stage for the upcoming Asia Cup in Japan.

According to Beyond Time News, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) conducted the trials at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium. Coaches and selectors closely observed young players as they competed for a place in the national setup.

20 players earn place in training camp

Following the initial phase, the selection committee shortlisted 20 talented players for the training camp. At the same time, officials placed eight players on the standby list to keep backup options ready.

The committee evaluated each player’s performance throughout the trials before finalizing the selections.

Squad split across all departments

The selected group includes players from all key positions, ensuring balance in the squad.

• Goalkeepers: Ghulam Mustafa, Nauman
• Defenders: Essam Haider (captain), Hassan Akbar (vice-captain), Uzair Ahmed
• Midfielders: Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Zaman Gujar, Usman Ghani, Muzammil Saeed, Shahidullah, Waqar Naeem
• Forwards: Abdullah Awan, Zonair, Rana Abdul Sami, Salman Yaseen, Adeel Afzal, Farhan Aslam, Yahya Najeeb, Muhammad Usman, Shoaib Sultan

Standby list announced for backup support

In addition, selectors named eight players for the standby list. According to Beyond Time News, Hamza Khalid leads the reserve goalkeepers, while others include Nauman Hanif, Haneen Noor, Usman Baig, Usman Asghar, Muhammad Zain, Arslan Siddique, and Taimoor Shiraz.

These players will remain under observation during the camp.

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Final squad to be confirmed on May 21

Meanwhile, the selection committee will continue assessing player performance in training sessions. Officials will announce the final 18-member squad on May 21 for the prestigious U-18 Asia Cup.

Trials supervised by senior hockey figures

To ensure transparency, experienced hockey officials supervised the trials. Chairman Selection Committee Samiullah Khan led the process, while Olympians Nasir Ali and Naeem Akhtar also took part. Kashif Jawad and Dr. Atif Bashir assisted in evaluations.

Furthermore, head coach Qamar Ibrahim and coach Rehan Butt monitored the sessions closely.

Officials express confidence in young talent

Finally, Samiullah Khan praised the young players and expressed confidence in their abilities. He said the selected squad has strong potential to represent Pakistan proudly on the international stage.