Asian Champions Trophy: Visa Issues Force Pakistan To Leave Without Goalkeepers

Pakistan hockey squad has left for Dhaka to consider section in the Asian Champions Trophy with no any goalkeeper in their line-up thanks to visa troubles. Asif Bajwa, the secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), reported the two the goalkeepers in the Pakistan camp, Amjad Ali and Mazhar Abbas, were not issued visas for Bangladesh. “Simply because of the uncommon problem the squad has left for Dhaka with no any goalkeepers,” Bajwa reported. He reported that as an emergency measure, the PHF has made a decision to send out the two goalkeepers who not too long ago represented Pakistan in the Junior Globe Cup in India — Abdullah and Waqar.

“Since they have got Bangladesh visas we are sending them now to Dhaka as we can’t consider any extra threats of waiting around for visas to get there for the senior goalkeepers,” he reported.

Curiously the PHF on the advice of goalkeeping mentor, Ahmed Alam experienced named up seniors, Mazhar and Amjad, to the Champions Trophy camp.

Promoted

“Initially we experienced made a decision to preserve the junior team goalkeepers for the senior function as very well but after the team’s lousy show in the Junior Globe Cup the goalkeeping mentor felt it would be ideal to recall the senior goalies,” Bajwa reported.

He reported this was the reason why visas experienced not been acquired on time for Amjad and Mazhar as they were very last moment additions to the camp when Abdullah and Waqar experienced visas issued.