KARACHI: Young defender Muhammad Imran has emerged as the favourite to take over as Pakistan hockey captain for next month’s four-nation tournament in Germany.

Sources in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) told ‘The News’ on Saturday that Imran, who was Pakistan’s vice-captain at last month’s Olympics in Beijing, is all set to replace veteran fullback Zeeshan Ashraf as the new skipper.

Zeeshan was overlooked by national selectors while picking a 37-man preliminary squad for the Hamburg Masters to be played in Germany from October 3 to 5. The seasoned defender was part of a list of senior players, who were ignored for national duty after Pakistan’s poor showing in the Beijing Olympics where the three-time champions finished at the eighth position — the country’s worst-ever Olympic showing since making its debut at the London Games in 1948.

Other senior players overlooked for the Hamburg assignment included former captains Rehan Butt, Muhammad Saqlain and seasoned goalie Salman Akbar.

Also in the run for the captaincy is mercurial striker Shakeel Abbasi, one of the few senior players retained for the Hamburg Masters.

But according to the sources, Imran is currently in the good books of the PHF and should get the captaincy when the 18-man Pakistan team is announced next week.

The PHF has announced that it will conduct one-day trials here at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on September 12, after which it will name the Hamburg-bound squad.

Imran, 23, who made his debut for Pakistan’s senior team in 2004, will miss the initial part of the national training camp which got underway at the HCP on September 5.

The Lahore-born short corner specialist is currently leading Pakistan Army in the Donghae Mayor Cup Asian club hockey tournament in Korea. Teams representing hosts South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong are competing in the tournament being played in Donghae, a city near capital Seoul.

Sources said that Imran’s clean disciplinary record and his experience as captain of the national junior team will go in his favour.

But the PHF is also considering the Shakeel Abbasi, a 24-year-old striker who is a double Olympian having represented Pakistan in Olympic Games in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Abbasi is one of the most senior players in the preliminary squad. He is regarded as one of Pakistan’s best players and has also received international recognition. Abbasi was declared the most promising player of the 2004 Champions Trophy in Lahore where he helped Pakistan clinch a bronze medal.

Pakistan are looking to induct a number of fresh faces in their squad for the Hamburg Masters. The four-nation tournament will also feature Olympic champions Germany, Malaysia and Belgium.