Hockey Champions Trophy: Pakistan to face Britain in opener

Event to feature eight teams, 24 matches in Auckland .

KARACHI: Pakistan face Great Britain in their opening match of the Men’s Champions Trophy in December, in what will be the last major tournament before the 2012 London Olympics.

Eight teams will be competing in the tournament in Auckland. The teams have been divided into two groups with three-time champions Pakistan drawn with Australia, Spain and Great Britain in Pool A. The other pool comprises Germany, Netherlands, Korea and New Zealand.

Pakistan will open their campaign on December 3 and will meet Spain the following day. The Greenshirts will then meet Australia on December 6 before the second round .

The Asian Games winners won their last Champions Trophy in 1994 in Lahore and are gearing up for the event after making it to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy last month where they lost to India on penalty strokes. A training camp is currently underway in Islamabad comprising 25 probables from where the squad will be announced.

“Our preparations are on track,” said team manager Khawaja Junaid. “The tour of Australia will give us solid preparation which is also important for the youngsters in the team.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2011.