KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9: Manager-cum-chief hockey coach Khawaja Zakauddin on Sunday said return of Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Saqlain and Waseem Ahmad would strengthen the team.

The Olympian, who is also the chief selector, said return of the trio could definitely make Pakistan a stronger combination.

“If we strengthen our half-line and get good penalty corner striker it will make them good combination. We need to play some 30 to 40 matches before the Olympics,” he said.

The three players had been banned by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Zafarullah Jamali last December for skipping Doha Asian Games training camp, preferring foreign leagues.

Zakauddin said mid-field should be improved before the Beijing Olympics.

The main cause of our team’s poor show was bad performance by the half-line. It is not up to the standard and particularly in matches against Malaysia and Britain.

“We cannot afford to play with five forwards because of vulnerability of our defence. But naturally we are disappointed with the result,” he said while replying to a question regarding team management’s defensive approach of fielding just four forwards.

While defending goal-keeper Salman Akbar’s poor performance, he said, “what he can do if defence does not rescue him.”

He didn’t agree that captaincy put Salman under pressure.

Zaka said he took charge only after Islahuddin Siddiqui fractured his toe during the camp and Jamali appointed him manager which he could not refuse.

He said regarding his future plans as chief coach for Beijing Olympics he would decide about it after reaching homeMeanwhile, Zakauddin said Pakistan had been invited for a series by China next year in March next.

He said he held initial discussions with officials of Chinese Hockey Association (CHA) and their chief coach Kim Saing Ryul who were here as a build-up to Beijing Games.

Zaka said an official invitation from CHA would be sent to PHF as soon as the Chinese team would reach home. He said dates of the tour would be finalized in consultation with hockey officials of the two countries.

However CHA wants Pakistan team to tour from the middle or third week of March.

CHA has also offered to arrange some practice matches of their junior team against Pakistan before the series.

“Playing in China will be good preparations for the Olympics” Zaka hoped.

Chinese officials want Pakistan to feature in a four-nation event in Beijing in May/June 2008 before the Olympics. But Zaka said he had informed the Chinese that Pakistan would be on European tour during that period.

According to a PHF spokesman, said that Spain and Malaysia had shown their interest in taking part in the four-nation event at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore from July 30 to August 3.

The spokesman said Zaka spoke to Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks who wanted the PHF to send official invitation and itinerary to Spanish Hockey Association for the event.

He said PHF had also been approaching Belgium and Japan for four-nation contest in Lahore and added that Belgium and France had shown interest to play host to Pakistan for their proposed European trip.—APP