Pakistan announces Azlan Shah squad, asks Saqlain to check temper

Lahore, June 3 (UNI) Pakistan has announced a 20-member squad for the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur and advised skipper Muhammad Saqlain to keep his volatile temper under check to avoid troubles.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Kirmani expressed trust in Saqlain's leadership qualities and admitted the midfielder stood the best chance to skipper the side in the World Cup as well.

The PHF chief, however, was worried with Saqlain's habit of getting into troubles with umpires and rival players and said, ''Saqlain should be cautious about his behaviour on the field.'' ''We certainly can't afford missing our key players before the World Cup,'' he added.

Saqlain was recently handed a three-match ban after FIH found him guilty of hitting an Australian player last year in Hamburg.

The Lahore-based player was axed from the 2004 Athens Olympics team fot assault on a fellow player.

Saqlain, who is down with a swollen eye, is a doubtful starter for the eight-nation Azlan Shah Cup which is scheduled in Kuala Lumpur from June 18 to 25.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Salman Akber, Nasir Ahmed Full backs : Imran Warsi, Muhammad Imran, Ihsanullah Half backs : Dilawar Hussain, Imran Khan, Adnan Maqsood, Ghazanfar Ali, Muhammad Saqlain, Sajjad Anwar, M Javed Forwards : Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Saleem Khalid Akhtar Ali, Mudassar Ali Khan, Muhammad Shabbir, Waqas Akber, Waqas Sharif Reserves : Muhammad Zubair, Mustansar Shaikh, Naeem Akbar, Yasir Islam, Shabbir Khan.

Officials : Asif Bajwa (coach/manager), Shahid Ali Khan (goalkeeper coach), Rana Zaheer (assistant coach).

UNI XC AY RN1237