Green-shirts to depart by May-end for European tour

KARACHI: Pakistan national senior hockey team which is busy in training these days in Lahore for 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds in June is likely to go on a European tour by the end of May, ‘The News’ has learnt.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics — for the first time in history.

Sources in PHF said that Pakistan team would play at least 10 matches before the qualifying rounds in London and that would be its final preparation.

“Playing against European teams on their homeland would be good experience for our players before the qualifying rounds and the weaknesses identified during New Zealand and Australia tours would be removed,” a PHF sources said.

The squad for eight matches among the national senior team, Pakistan Whites and Development Squad would be announced on Saturday (today).

Pakistan’s chief coach Khwaja Junaid, when contacted, said: “During the camp we have focused on the weaknesses identified during New Zealand and Australia tours.

“Through video analyses of the tours we taught boys where they committed mistakes. Then through demonstration drills these weaknesses were removed.

“Defending and attacking skills both are being improved. Our defence of penalty corners was weak and we conceded goals in both countries. Thus, we focused on penalty corner defence and goalkeepers and defenders are doing drills.

“I have not made a hectic schedule of training because I did not want to increase the work load and players to be fatigued. The practice matches are going to be started in a few days and then we are to play a few international matches against two or three European countries. So, we focused only on their weaknesses and maintenance of fitness,” said Junaid.

Pakistan have been placed in pool B and will play their first match against Holland on June 15, against Canada on June 16, India  on June 18 and Scotland on June 19.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that a high-level meeting of PHF officials would be held in Lahore, on Saturday (today). The PHF president Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokhar and secretary Shahbaz Ahmed have reached Lahore to participate in the meeting.

The meeting will review the progress of hockey in the country and discuss plans of Pakistan senior team for its European tour and participation in the World Cup qualifying rounds.

Pakistan are waiting for the response from Holland, Spain, and England who have been contacted for international matches before the qualifying rounds.