LAHORE Pakistan will play five International matches before competing in the 2011-World Cup hockey to be held in New Delhi, India from Feb 28 to March 13. Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa said on Friday that after playing two Tests against Holland at a neutral venue in Doha, Qatar on Jan 20 and 21, Pakistan would play three matches in New Delhi, one each against Germany, New Zealand and Canada before the start of the mega event.
“Five matches are enough to assess the real strength of the boys before featuring in the World Cup and I hope the team will not disappoint the nation,” he said.
Asif, also as manager of the national team, is going to India to meet the his biggest challenge, since his tenure started in mid 2008.
He said after playing two Test matches against Holland the team will hold the training camp in Lahore from Jan 25 for the final phase of the preparations for the World Cup.
