China to kick off ‘memorable’ series tomorrow
International hockey action to resume in Pakistan.
KARACHI /LAHORE:
Pakistan will take on China tomorrow in Karachi, marking the return of international hockey in the country, with the players looking forward to playing at home against international opposition after a seven-year hiatus.
The match will be the first of four of the series that has been termed memorable by the home side’s captain Mohammad Imran.
“We’re eagerly awaiting the revival of international action at home,” Imran told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s practice session. “Everyone’s looking forward to the series as it’ll be a memorable one for all of us. We’ve missed playing international matches in
our country.”
The captain further said that the team will not take China lightly, especially after Pakistan’s dismal show in the Champions Trophy.
“China won’t be easy opponents and we’ll have to be at our best against them.”
‘Series to kick-off Olympics preparations’
Meanwhile, team manager Khwaja Junaid, who is supervising the squad in the absence of chief coach Michel Van Den Heuvel, said the series marks the start of the final phase of preparation for the Olympics. “The series is very important since it’s our first assignment for the final phase of preparation,” he said. “We’ll try our best to win it.”
Venues in perfect condition: Zia
Pakistan Hockey Federation President Qasim Zia confirmed that all venues – Karachi, Faisalabad, Lahore – are of international standards, rejecting suggestions that some of the turfs to be used are sub-standard.
“The venues are ready to host international games and the turfs are in perfect condition,” he told reporters in Lahore. “Suggestions that some of the turfs are of sub-standard quality are completely baseless.
“Meanwhile, Heuvel asked for a leave as he wanted to spend Christmas with his family and that’s why he’s not available for this series. However, assistant coaches Shahid Ali Khan and Ajmal Lodhi, as well as Junaid, will be looking after the team in his absence.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2011.
Pakistan will take on China tomorrow in Karachi, marking the return of international hockey in the country, with the players looking forward to playing at home against international opposition after a seven-year hiatus.
The match will be the first of four of the series that has been termed memorable by the home side’s captain Mohammad Imran.
“We’re eagerly awaiting the revival of international action at home,” Imran told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s practice session. “Everyone’s looking forward to the series as it’ll be a memorable one for all of us. We’ve missed playing international matches in
our country.”
The captain further said that the team will not take China lightly, especially after Pakistan’s dismal show in the Champions Trophy.
“China won’t be easy opponents and we’ll have to be at our best against them.”
‘Series to kick-off Olympics preparations’
Meanwhile, team manager Khwaja Junaid, who is supervising the squad in the absence of chief coach Michel Van Den Heuvel, said the series marks the start of the final phase of preparation for the Olympics. “The series is very important since it’s our first assignment for the final phase of preparation,” he said. “We’ll try our best to win it.”
Venues in perfect condition: Zia
Pakistan Hockey Federation President Qasim Zia confirmed that all venues – Karachi, Faisalabad, Lahore – are of international standards, rejecting suggestions that some of the turfs to be used are sub-standard.
“The venues are ready to host international games and the turfs are in perfect condition,” he told reporters in Lahore. “Suggestions that some of the turfs are of sub-standard quality are completely baseless.
“Meanwhile, Heuvel asked for a leave as he wanted to spend Christmas with his family and that’s why he’s not available for this series. However, assistant coaches Shahid Ali Khan and Ajmal Lodhi, as well as Junaid, will be looking after the team in his absence.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2011.