Chief selector of the Pakistan Hockey team Manzoor Junior announced a 19-member squad for the two Olympic qualifying matches scheduled for October 26 and 27 against Netherlands, today.

Muhammad Rizwan Senior will lead Pakistan in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers against the Netherlands to be held later this month in Amsterdam.

Pakistan hockey team will play two friendly matches against Germany on October 21 and 23 and after this they will depart for Netherlands to compete in the Olympic qualifying matches against the hosts on October 26 and 27.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has named former Olympian Khawaja Junaid as the head coach of the Pakistan hockey team.

The squad was finalized after two-day trials for Olympic 2020 qualifiers held at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan squad: Waqar (goalkeeper), Amjad Ali (goalkeeper), Mubashar Ali, Rizwan Ali, Imad Butt, Abubakr Mahmood, Ali Shaan, Ijaz Ahmed, Umar Bhutta, Muhammad Rizwan senior (captain), Rana Sohail, Rana Waheed, Ghazanfar Ali, Hammad Anjum, Irfan senior.

According to PHF officials 18-member squad has announced for the matches in Amstelveen on October 26-27. “Besides team members, around eight officials will accompany the team for the two matches,” officials added.

Pakistan hockey team appeared last year’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar, where team’s poor performance led to the removal of Shahbaz Ahmed as secretary and sacking of the coaching staff as well.

Pakistan hockey team ranked 17th in the world, has to win against world no.3 the Netherlands to directly qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.