A full-strength Usha Krira Chakra will take on Mariner Young’s Club in a crucial Premier Hockey League match today with their five Pakistani recruits finally joined the side.
Usha were given green signal by the Special Branch of Police on Monday to bring their five Pakistani players after some serious scrutiny that delayed their visa process.Usha, the joint defending champions, played their first two matches without any foreign players though it could not deter the side from starting their campaign on a winning note.
They won both of their games comfortably against Wari Club (4-1) and Bangladesh Railway Sporting Club (13-0).
Four current Pakistan national team players — Aleem Belal, Kashif Shah, Mohammad Irfan and Ali Shan — arrived on Thursday along with former national player Ashfaq Newaj.
‘With the inclusion of five Pakistani players, we hope we will offer a great challenge to other title contenders,’ Usha manager Rafiqul Islam Kamal said on Friday.
‘We have six national players in our squad but we struggled in some positions due to the late arrival of our Pakistani recruits.’
Usha failed to make the final of the Club Cup Hockey Tournament despite having five Malaysian players in the team.
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited, the other joint champions, continued their winning spree when they beat Bangladesh Sporting Club 3-1 in their league match at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.
Razib Das put Abahani ahead in the 32nd minute, converting from the penalty corner but Pakistani forward Shahbaz Ali took only few seconds to level the margin for Sporting from another penalty corner.
Abahani, however, ensured the full three points after Sheikh Mohammad Nannu and Pakistani Mohammad Irfan scored a goal each in the second-half.
Ajax Sporting Club and Wanderers Sporting Club played a 2-2 draw in the day’s other match at the same venue.
-With New Age input
