KARACHI: Pakistan players started their physical fitness camp in Abbottabad on Tuesday and had their first training session under the supervision of the newly-appointed instructor from Australia.

Head coach Roelant Oltmans has also joined the camp, sources told ‘The News’. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has called 38 players to the camp. Assistant coach Rehan Butt said that only four players did not report at the camp because they were to attend the junior hockey team’s training camp in Karachi.

He said that the GPS devices which would be used for the first time in Pakistan for improving the physical fitness of the players had not reached there yet. Rehan said that the devices were expected to be there within the next three days.

He said the Australian physical instructor had vast experience in the field of physical fitness of the players of various disciplines. He has also worked with Indian hockey team for two years. He has been recommended for Pakistan hockey team by Oltmans.

Butt said the instructor would focus on the players’ speed, strength and stamina. He added that the camp was solely for the improvement of fitness of the players and there would be no hockey training. The camp would continue till May 15, he said.

“Then we will go to Karachi to start full training from May 19,” Rehan said. These camps are being organised to prepare the Green-shirts to participate in the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Holland from June 23 to July 1.