Pak recall 'disgraced' senior hockey players for Europe tour

Karachi, July1 (ANI): Just months after being blamed for leading Pakistan to a humiliating last-place finish in this year's hockey World Cup, Zeeshan Ashraf has returned as the national team's captain for next month's Europe tour.

The other World Cup flops in the 18-man squad are several seniors including goalie Salman Akber, midfielder Waseem Ahmed and strikers Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi.

The hockey chiefs however snubbed Sohail Abbas, Pakistan's most successful hockey player in recent years, after he stayed away from Wednesday's national trials as well as a preparatory camp that preceded it, The News reports.

Pakistan was forced to recall the senior players after their 'young team' flopped in the Azlan Shah Cup, finishing fifth in the event.

It is also being said that the national selectors and team officials are looking to build a strong and capable squad in a bid to regain the Asian Games crown in China this November.

Pakistan hockey had hit a new low when the four-time former champions finished last in the World Cup.

The embarrassing result for the four-time World champions had forced the PHF to appoint Dutchman Michel van den Heuvel as the team's new coach till the 2012 London Olympics. (ANI)