A day after being recalled for the Asian Games training camp, Sohail wasn't very talkative in an interview with Arab News but he did appear quietly confident of making a successful return at the quadrennial spectacle to be held in Guangzhou (China) next month.
"I'm always ready to play for Pakistan," Sohail said when asked whether he was ready to make yet another international comeback after spending several months on the sidelines. "I'm fit and have been training while I was out of the team," he added.
Sohail was axed from the national team after Pakistan flopped miserably in the 2010 World Cup in March. The four-time champions suffered the ignominy of finishing last in the tournament that was played in New Delhi.
Following the debacle, Sohail was singled out as one of the biggest failures of the World Cup and wasn't considered for the team when the country's hockey chiefs began making plans for two back-to-back events — the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
However, they were forced to recall Sohail after Pakistan slumped to a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Commonwealth Games following defeats at the hands of India and South Africa in New Delhi earlier this month.
Sohail is now a part of a 25-man preliminary squad, which will begin training for the Asian Games in Islamabad from Oct. 25.
Hockey officials say that the experienced player, who is regarded among the world's best short corner specialists, will have to prove his form and fitness during the camp and national trials early next month to earn a place in the Asian Games squad.
Sohail said that he would try his best to do that.
"My form is good and I'll try to give my best," he said.
Pakistan's critics might reject the former champions as too bad to win the title but Sohail believes that the Greenshirts can prove to be the surprise package of the Guangzhou Games.
"It's not a bad side but what we need is to give our best. We have to play well to win titles." Sohail said that it's his greatest desire to help Pakistan win a major title before saying goodbye to the game.
"It's something that is very much on my mind," he said referring to the fact that during his illustrious career Pakistan has never won a major international title.
"It would be great if Pakistan win the Asian Games because it will fill a big void." Sohail has a particularly good track record against India and Pakistan will be banking on him to beat the old rivals in a much-awaited clash between the two Asian giants on Nov. 20 in Guangzhou.
India have beaten Pakistan in their last two high-profile clashes and would be looking for a third consecutive win over their neighbors in China.
But Sohail said that if given a chance to play in the Asian Games, he wouldn’t be focusing on any particular team. "We have to work hard against all teams because that's the only way we can go all the way."
