The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a 20-member national squad for the upcoming FIH Pro League, with Imad Shakeel Butt named captain for the prestigious tournament, according to media reports.
The squad was finalised under the supervision of Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui and Hassan Sardar, as Pakistan prepares for the international event.
The team includes two goalkeepers: Waqar and Ali Raza. The defenders are Abu Bakr, Arbaaz Ahmed, Muhammad Abdullah, and Sufyan Khan.
The midfielders are Nadeem Khan, Imad Shakeel Butt, Moin Shakeel, Hammad Anjum, and Zakaria Hayat. The forwards include Ghazanfar Ali, Muhammad Imad, Rana Waleed, Abdul Rehman, and Afraz Khan. Rana Waheed, Ahmed Nadeem, Arshad Liaquat, and Hanan Shahid are also part of the national squad.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, the players will receive a daily allowance of 110 US dollars in advance. The Pro League matches will be played in Belgium and England.
Meanwhile, the PHF said the reserve list for the squad would be announced later in a separate statement.
The federation also stated that, on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government had provided administrative, financial and logistical support to the team.
As part of the support package, players will receive a daily allowance of $110 in advance, while all accommodation and logistical arrangements for the tour have been completed. The PHF further said that Pakistani missions in England and Belgium had been directed to assist and facilitate the team during the tour.
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