November 20, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 4, 1422

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LAHORE, Nov 19: Pakistan will be the candidate of hosting the Senior and Junior World Cup hockey tournaments and the 25th Champions Trophy.

The Senior World Cup is scheduled be held in 2006 and the junior in 2005.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Brig. Mussaratullah Khan told journalists Monday that Pakistan will present its case in the FIH Executive Board meeting to be held at Brussels (Belgium) on Nov 29.

He said that Pakistan would fight for the 25th Champions Trophy as an alternative of the 23rd edition which was held at Rotterdam (Holland) this month after shifting from Pakistan due to security reasons in the region.

He said that according to the FIH decision Pakistan had the opportunity to hold Champions Trophy after every two years. Following this rule Pakistan would be awarded the 26th edition, but the PHF was interested to get the silver jubilee year tournament in place of 23rd Champions Trophy.

He said that the case would be presented in the FIH competition committee before the final approval from the executive board. He said that from Pakistan Mudassar Asghar was the only member of the competition committee who would plead our case for the three events.

However, Pakistan will face difficulties in the executive board as its only member M. H. Atif who is reportedly not attending that meeting.

In case the Pakistan will get the World Junior Cup it will automatically qualify for this competition without playing in the qualifying round to be held in 2004.