Reliable defender Zeeshan Arshaf will lead Pakistan hockey team in the Commonwealth Games in which the green shirts will play their inaugural match against little known Scotland on October five at New Delhi. Zeeshan passed a fitness test after fully recovering from a hamstring injury to dispel the doubts that he would miss the mega event. Right half Kashif Javed suffering from an ankle injury is also part of the 16-member team named on Tuesday by Pakistan Hockey Federation. The team is Zeeshan Ashraf (Captain), Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Irfan, Waseem Ahmad, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmad, Shafqat Rasool, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Abdul Haseem Khan, Muhammad Waqas Sharif, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Umar Bhutta, Imran Shah, Muhammad Tauseeq and Muhammad Kashif Javed. Khawaja Muhammad Junaid will be the team manager, Michel Van Den is the coach assisted by Ahmad Alam and Ajmal Khan Lodhi.Faiz Ur Rehman will act as physio and Nadeem Khan Lodhi is the video analyst. Ten teams are taking part in the event starting from October 5. Pool A comprises Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia, India and Scotland, while pool B features England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago. Pakistan will play its first match against Scotland on October 5, second match against Malaysia on October 6, third match against Australia on October 9 and fourth match against India on October 10. Classification matches and semi finals will be played on October 12, while final and bronze medal matches will be played on October 14.
