Pakistan hockey team gets green signal for Hockey Asian Champions Trophy

Pakistan hockey team has been allowed to travel to India for the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Chennai from August 3. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHK) secretary Haider Hussain on Friday confirmed that they have received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior.

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"The contingent will leave on Tuesday via the Wagah border and travel to Amritsar from where they have been booked on a domestic flight for Chennai," Haider said.

Haider said they were still waiting for visas for the three officials. These include Shahnaz Sheikh, the newly appointed advisor to the national team. Haider said he was confident of getting the visa by Monday. The Indian High Commission had already issued visas for the rest of the players and officials. One of the most celebrated names in Pakistan hockey and the former coach of Pakistan, Shahnaz Sheikh will be a big help for the team with his expertise.

Pakistan will play its first match of the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy against Malaysia on 3rd August. The Green Shirts will face arch-rivals India on August 9. Pakistan and India are the most successful sides of the tournament, having won the title thrice each while Korea will participate in the upcoming edition as the defending champions, who won the previous edition in 2021.

Pakistan Squad for Hockey Asian Champions Trophy:

Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtsham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (Vice Captain), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abdul Rahman, while the standby includes Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan, and Abdul Qayyum.

Also Read: Asian Champions Trophy 2023 schedule: India and China will face each other in the first match

Pakistan Match Schedule for Hockey Asian Champions Trophy:

• August 3: Pakistan vs Malaysia
• August 4: Pakistan vs Korea
• August 6: Pakistan vs Japan
• August 7: Pakistan vs China
• August 9: Pakistan vs India