Former Malaysia coach Shahid to handle Pakistan

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and the National Sports Council (NSC) did not want him. But on Friday the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) named Shahid Ali Khan as the chief coach of their national hockey team.

Shahid was Malaysia’s was the goalkeeper coach with the national juniors from 2005 and in 2007 worked with the senior team when Sarjit Singh was at the helm.

In October last year they decided not to renew his contract when it expired in December.

Shahid’s first international assignment with the Pakistani team will be the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from April 6-12.

Shahid said in a telephone interview from Karachi yesterday that his priority was to prepare Pakistan for the Asia Cup.

“There is no question that we want to win the Asia Cup which will allow us to qualify automatically for the 2010 World Cup in India.

“Our full attention is on that tournament for the moment. We have 40 players in the training squad and we will trim the team to 25,” he said.

Shahid also said that he will also look at including several of their junior players in his team for the Asia Cup which will be held in Dubai in May.

“We must have a youthful team with a blend of experienced players. This is the long term objective. The more immediate priority is Dubai where we must try and secure the automatic berth to India,” he added.

Shahid said that he had no regrets leaving Malaysia although he would have loved to work longer with the team.