Pakistan’s renowned penalty corner specialist, Sohail Abbas, has signed a one-year contract with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) to improve players’ drag-flicking skills. MHC confirmed the agreement on Monday.
Sohail, Pakistan’s highest international goal-scorer with 348 goals in 311 matches, has previously turned down coaching offers from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). He has also distanced himself from many Olympians and international players in Pakistan.
Sohail will work alongside head coach Surjit Singh in Malaysia to enhance the team’s penalty corner conversion skills.
Despite multiple attempts by the PHF to bring Sohail on board for coaching, he declined the offers. A few years ago, he even cancelled a meeting with PHF secretary Asif Bajwa upon learning it was related to coaching discussions.
Sohail, nephew of Olympian Safdar Abbas, last represented Pakistan in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the team reached the semifinals.
