Pakistan playing Champions Trophy after 6 years

ACUKLAND: Pakistan, once the power house of hockey, returns to the fold of elite Champions trophy hockey tournament after six years courtesy to a wild card entry and the green shirts are desperate to justify their inclusion in the 8-nation event which gets
underway here tomorrow, Saturday at North Harbor hockey stadium .

Pakistan, inceptors of the event way back in 1978, last participated in the Champions Trophy in 2005 in Germany, finishing at fifth place and since then they could not qualify for the event and this time FIH has guaranteed them a place by allocating a wild card .

The green shirts are not making tall claims to be on the top amid the presence of world number one Australia and masters of the game including Holland and Germany but they are confident to make their presence felt by finishing among the top four places.

"We will start the event are underdogs knowing our worldwide number nine ranking but it does not mean that the other teams should write us off we are here to prove that we are in the process of making of good combination team for next year's London Olympics and we take our participation as part of our preparations for the mega event ", said team's manager, Khawaja Mohammad Junaid while talking to APP on the eve of their opening match against England on Saturday.

The other participating teams are Spain, South Korea as New Zealand got the right of participation as the hosts as Games ruling body, the international hockey federation, changed the format of the previously six-nation competition to the 8-nation .

He said his side has the potential to beat any team as the players are in high spirit after their recent success in a Tri-nation tournament in Australia in which they edged out hockey’s super power, Australia in the final.

" We have set our goals in the tournament and I don't want to make tall claims regarding the showing of the team as we are in good practice and are fully prepared to take on a tough challenge in champions trophy in a decent manner ", said the former Olympian.

Kh Junaid said he is confident that the inclusion of senior players including ace drag flicker, Sohail Abbas, veteran Waseem Ahmad, and experienced custodian Salman Akbar is going to make a big impact on the team in terms of lifting its performance besides being a big inspiration for the young players to learn from the technique and expertise of their mentors.

He said every match of the champion's trophy is challenging and the result achieved in every match will decide the prospect of green shirts in the competition. "I have pinned greater hopes from my young players who were outstanding during the recent tour of Australia and I urge them to show a better brand of quality hockey to prove that they
are the future hopes of Pakistan hockey ", he added. (APP)