Pak hockey probables fear dengue outbreak at training camp

Lahore, Nov 2 (UNI) Forced to practise at a mosquito-infested ground, Pakistan's hockey probables for next month's Doha Asian Games fear that they might end up catching the deadly dengue fever.

The fear has risen especially after forward Shabbir Hussain caught fever during the camp. The player is yet to recover and his condition is said to be so severe that the doctors have conducted blood tests to diagnose the cause of the high fever.

Pakistan's 38 probables for the Asiad next month are training at a camp and have been forced to stay at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) hostel instead of a hotel because of paucity of funds and the players are worried about the mosquito menace.

''Shabbir is suffering from very high fever and we are all hoping that it is nothing serious,'' winger Rehan Butt told 'The News'.

''But there have been so many reports about this dengue fever that it can be scary,'' he added.

However, the officials don't seem to share the players' concern and have said that the venue of the training camp will not be changed. HCP Direcyor Iftikhar Syed said insectisides have been sprayed at the ground to check the mosquito-menace.

''We don't see mosquitoes as a major problem. We have sprayed the entire stadium with insecticides and would continue to do that in the coming days,'' said the former Olympian.

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