Imran, who was replaced as skipper by seasoned striker Shakeel Abbasi for the tour of Australia, was handed back the captaincy armband by the country’s hockey chiefs for what is Pakistan’s most important assignment of 2011.

Under Abbasi Pakistan stunned world champions Australia 4-3 in a pulsating final of a three-nation event in Perth earlier this month.

The result prompted speculations that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will retain the mercurial forward as captain of the 18-man Champions Trophy squad.

However, the PHF is clearly of the view that Imran, who succeeded Zeeshan Ashraf as Pakistan’s captain after last December’s Asian Games, is a better option for national captaincy.

Meanwhile, as expected national selector opted to recall experienced goalkeeper Salman Akbar in the touring party.

Salman was a member of the Pakistan team that regained the Asian Games crown in China. The selectors omitted right-out Umar Bhutta, who paid the price for his below-par showing. Also getting the axe was youngster Muhammad Irfan Junior, who was unable to impress much in his stint with the seniors and has been sent back to the national junior team.

Team officials believe that they have been given a squad that is capable enough to spring positive results at the eight-nation Champions Trophy to be played in Auckland from Dec. 3-11.

“Our boys have been doing well in the recent past and the return of Salman Akbar is another positive development for us,” coach Shahid Ali Khan told Arab News from Islamabad. The squad was named in the federal capital on Sunday evening following trials.

Pakistan will leave for Auckland on Nov. 27 and will be undergoing some tough training sessions over the new few days.

“We’ve been making some solid preparations for the Champions trophy which is one of the toughest events in international hockey,” said Shahid, a former Olympian.

“We are working on finishing and individual skills. The overall fitness of the boys is improving.

“Over the next few days we will be paying more emphasis on defense and short-corner variations. The boys are also undergoing speed and power training.” Pakistan are scheduled to play a practice game against hosts New Zealand on November 30 ahead of their Champions Trophy opener against Great Britain on Dec. 3. They will meet Spain on the 4th before taking on top seeds Australia in their last Group A clash on Dec. 6. Germany head Pool B that also includes Netherlands, Korea and Spain.

Shahid is confident that his team is capable of making the cut for the last-four stage of the event. “If the boys play to their potential then we will have a very good chance of qualifying for the semifinals,” he said.

: Salman Akbar, Imran Shah, Mohammad Imran (captain), Kashif Shah, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Rizwan, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tauseeq, Waqas Shariq, Shakeel Abbasi (vice-captain), Abdul Haseem Khan, Muhammad Rizwan Sr, Muhammad Zubair, Ali Shan and Shafqat Rasool.

: Khawaja Junaid (manager), Michel van den Heuvel (head coach), Shahid Ali Khan (coach).