Mon, Nov 01 10 09:48 PM
Karachi, Nov 1 (PTI) Uncertainity looms large over penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas participation in the upcoming Asian Games after the Pakistan Hockey Federation had ran into problems with the organising committee over the veteran player''s selection. According to details, Abbas who was called out of wilderness to join the Asian Games training camp after Pakistan finished a disappointing sixth in the Commonwealth Games, is not being given accreditation by the organising committee of the Guangzhou Games. "Since his (Abbas) name has been included late, the Asian Games organising committee that deals with accreditations of participating athletes has said that his name has been sent after the deadline given to all countries," a source in the PHF said. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa also admitted that they were facing issues over the selection of Pakistan''s all-time leading goalscorer, Abbas. "But we are working on it and we are hopeful that he would be given clearance and his name will be included in our official contingent," Bajwa said. He disclosed that PHF has an alternative option if Abbas was not included officially in the contingent. "We can send him with our own expenses and have him in the team," Bajwa said. Bajwa said the matter was being sorted out and the squad for the Asian Games would be announced by tomorrow. The PHF had earlier planned to announce their squad on Saturday. Abbas was surprisingly recalled to the national camp by chief selector Hanif Khan after he was ignored for the Commonwealth Games following differences with the federation over his availability leading to the suspension of his central contract. "I am always available to play for my country and I have been training hard. I am a professional player and I know the level of fitness I need to maintain. That is why I am confident I can justify my recall in the Asian Games," Abbas said.
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