Waseem Ahmed has been appointed the captain of the Pakistan hockey team, while Sohail Abbas will be his deputy for the eight-match Test series against India [ Images ] beginning this week in Karachi, the Pakistan Hockey Federation informed on Thrusday.

Ahmed will replace Mohammad Nadeem, who quit international hockey last week, after the Pakistan team failed to win a medal at the Olympic Games [ Images ], PHF secretary Musarrat Ullah Khan said.

The remaining members of the team were yet to be announced.

The home-and-away series of eight test matches between archrivals India and Pakistan is being revived after five years. The last time the sides competed against each other in a bilateral series in 1999.

Pakistan will host four matches from September 24 to October 1,while India will host four matches from October 4-10.

Authorities say they have made the best possible arrangements for security and safety of the visiting Indian team in Karachi and elsewhere.