Pakistan hockey squad leaves for Netherlands on Sunday

KARACHI: The trio comprising Tazeemul-Hasan, Faisal Qadir and Ateeq Arshad were shown the door as the selectors on Thursday announced an extended 22-member Pakistan hockey squad for the 37th Champions Trophy to be held at Breda, Netherlands from June 23 to July 1. The team leaves for Amsterdam on Sunday, three weeks ahead of the competition, where they play five practice matches before finalising the 18 players for the event. “The purpose of sending four extra players is aimed at preparing a winning combination for the Jakarta Asian Games which is our main target,` chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, flanked by former Olympian and team manager Hasan Sardar, told newsmen while announcing the team at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.