“The competition would be very tough in Champions Trophy. The players must go that extra mile for the event. They have to work hard, gain fitness and work on their stamina if they want to make any impact in the prestigious event.” -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan’s former hockey great Samiullah has termed International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) decision to include Pakistan in the 2011 Champions Trophy as the right one but has warned his compatriots of the big challenge that comes with facing the top teams in the world.

“It is very good to see inclusion of Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. International Hockey Federation took the right decision by increasing the number of teams in the Trophy fold because currently you need the sides that are struggling a bit to competed regularly against the better side,” the former Olympian told PPI.

“The decision will give Pakistan a chance to assess their strengths and weaknesses and will also give the management an opportunity to build long-term strategies around it.”

While the actual date for next year’s Champions Trophy hockey tournament is yet to be finalised, the Executive Board of the FIH on Friday decided to award wildcard entries to Pakistan and South Korea in the 2011 edition of the tournament which includes Australia, England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and hosts India.

Samiullah said that the ‘Green Shirts’ would have to lift their game and prepare themselves intensively for the prestigious event.

“The competition will be very tough in the Champions Trophy. The players must go that extra mile for the event. They have to work hard, gain fitness and work on their stamina if they want to make any impact in the prestigious event,” he added.

He added said that the Champions Trophy would be a simulation of London Olympics 2012 and the result in Champions Trophy would show where the team stands ahead of all-important world event.

“It will be a simulation of Olympics and if they (Pakistan) do well in Champions Trophy, they would certainly do well in Olympics as well. And if they fail to record any worthwhile achievement there than we would already have a clear picture of what to expect from them at the Olympics,” he explained.

Pakistan have thrice won the Champions Trophy, a format founded by the Pakistan Hockey Federation under Air Marshal Nur Khan, but have failed to qualify for it for the last three years.