Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan hockey team left for London here Saturday to take part in the World Hockey League (WHL), which is the qualifying round for next year’s World Cup. Pakistan’s preparations for the event were hit badly due to several reasons. First, Malaysia ignored Pakistan to invite it for the traditional Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and then no European country was ready to play matches against the green shirts in Europe. The country was left with no choice but to play practice matches against second string squads of European countries.

The WHL is to be played from June 15 to 25 in which ten teams are participating. Another WHL round is to be played in South Africa next month in which 10 other countries will participate. Overall, 20 teams will vie for seven berths available for the 2018 World Cup, to be held in India, in two leagues. The International Hockey Federation has increased the number of participating teams from 12 to 16.

Qualifying for the World Cup is important for Pakistan as they failed to qualify for the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016. After the WHL, Pakistan, like other Asian countries, will also have a chance to be at the World Cup by winning the Asia Cup to be held in September-October this year.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation officials met the national team members before their departure at the National Hockey Stadium. Talking to the media, a spokesman for the PHF said the players were well-prepared for the event and they looked physically fit and fully motivated. He added that Pakistan’s matches against New Zealand and Australia helped them a lot in improving their skills. Head coach Khawaja Junaid Ahmad said they would take every match seriously. He maintained that no team could be taken lightly in modern day hockey.

The coach said the shortcomings which had been noticed during the New Zealand and Australia tours were removed in the training camp. Captain Haseem Khan said though fans were focusing more on Pakistan-India match, he would take all matches seriously. He added that India would be taken as opponents whom Pakistan had to defeat at any cost. The skipper said their main target was to take full advantage from the event to land at the World Cup. Prior to the London event, Pakistan will play three matches against Ireland in Belfast on June 1, 3 and 4. They will also play matches against Ireland’s under-21 side on June 6 and 7. Pakistan are placed in Pool B along with Holland, India, Canada and Scotland. Pool A includes Argentina, England, Malaysia, South Korea and China. The green-shirts will play their first match against Holland on June 15 and face Canada the next day. They will be up against India on June 18 and Scotland on June 19.