LAHORE, Nov 7 (UNI): Drag flick specialist Sohail Abbas is expected to make his return to international hockey in the proposed Test series against India early next year.
Talking to mediapersons here, a senior Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official said, "Sohail will be given a fair chance to prove his form and fitness and if he is able to convince selectors that he is still good enough for international hockey, he will be selected in the national squad." Pakistan is planning to play a Test series against its old rivals India on a home-and-away basis next January.
Informing about the governing Board's policy, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said, "The current regime has a clear policy about eligibility to play for the national team.
Any player who is good for the team will be selected for national duty." The 31-year-old penalty corner specialist holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in international hockey.
He has scored 274 goals, surpassing Dutch legend Paul Litjens' record a few years back.
The axe, however, fell over the star player and former Pakistan captain Wasim Ahmed in the 2004 Champions Trophy after the duo missed a national training camp to play in the Dutch professional league.
Since then Sohail has mostly been out of the national team.
The former Olympian Bajwa further said the current PHF officials have a softer policy and all players are eligible to play for the country.
He said, "The PHF is likely to hold open trials next month in which all players including Sohail and Wasim will be invited.
"If those players pass the fitness, we would be happy to call them back," he said.
Saina aims to clinch Hong Kong, China Open titles HYDERABAD, Nov 7 (UNI): With back-to-back title at CommonwealthYouth Games and World Junior Badminton Championship, ace shuttlerSaina Nehwal is all set to storm in the Hong Kong and China Open,starting later this month.
Saina, who was the quarter-finalist in the Beijing Olympics this year, though refrained from making tall claims about her chances in these tournaments, but she aims to produce her best.
Talking to mediapersons here, the 18-year-old said, "Next tournament is Hong Kong Open and then China Open which is starting on November 18.
Hopefully, I will do well." "I just go for winning.
I really don't make statements like I am going to win the tournament.
I really know how tough is the competition.
I will give my 100 per cent and hope for a good result," she added.
The Hyderabadi shuttler, however, feels that her defence and backhand stroke have improved over a period of time.
"I am basically an attacking player.
I have good smashes.
I feel my defence has improved but I need to work on it more.
"This year I really worked on my defence and backhand stroke.
That's why I am able to cover the court nicely and I am able to recover well.
That's the best part.
A player is never perfect.
Next year, I would improve even better," the badminton sensation said.
Saina further added that she is taking a break in December and would start afresh in January next year.
Tendulkar's record speaks volumes about his greatness: Hadlee NEW DELHI, Nov 7 (UNI): Already a fan of Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Richard Hadlee today said the Indian maestro stands apart from most in the business and added that his statistics are the reflection of his stature as a player.
"Greatness of a player depends on how he adapts to situations, conditions and wickets.
In the modern day cricket, Sachin's statistics speak volumes about him," Hadlee told mediapersons here today.
"Technically, he is better than every player and yes you need to be an extraordinary to be a Sachin,"he added.
Tendulkar recently completed 12,000 runs in Test cricket at Mohali against Australia.
The 35-year-old Tendulkar has the most number of centuries in both the ODIs and Test cricket.
He is also the leading run-getter in both the forms of the game.
"With the kind of record that Sir Don Bradman has, he was arguably the best batsman in the game.
But Sachin definitely is a magnificent player who has served not only India but the world cricket as well," Hadlee said.
The 57-year-old Hadlee recalled that the first time he saw Tendulkar he was very impressed with the young boy who had just arrived at the international cricket.
He said Tendulkar got 70-80 runs against New Zealand in that innings and that was enough to indicate what player he would become in future.
"I myself have played against him and he was a young boy of 17 years.
He got 80 odd runs and I was sure that he would become a great player one day," he remembered.
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