World's leading goal scorer and ace drag-flicker Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmed of Pakistan have confirmed their participation in the Premier Hockey League, adding glamour to the much-awaited competition.

The presence of these two players is likely to give a further boost to the PHL, which is set to begin in Hyderabad on January 13.

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"Today I got a call from Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Musratullah Khan who confirmed that the two players would be taking part in the PHL," IHF Secretary General K Jothikumaran told over phone from Hyderabad.

Incidentally both Abbas and Waseem had announced their retirement from international hockey soon after the Champions Trophy in Lahore earlier this month.

Both had in fact made it clear that they would be playing in the Dutch League this year before considering participating in the PHL from next season.

"I don't know what was their arrangements with the Dutch League. But this is (their taking part in PHL) a very good gesture by the PHF," Jothikumaran said.

Jothikumaran, however, declined to name the teams that Abbas and Waseem would represent in the month-long competition.

"We are yet to decide on their teams. We have also not yet decided about the final list of foreign players. But we are hopeful of coming out with the list in a couple of days."

Earlier Pakistan had allowed eight players -- Ahmad Alam, Zeeshan Asrhaf, Muhammad Saqlain, Muhammad Sawar, Ali Raza, Dilawar Hussain, Kashif Jawwad and Mudassar Ali Khan -- to feature in the PHL.