December 31, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 15, 1422

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LAHORE, Dec 30: Trials to select Pakistan team for the six- nation hockey tournament will be held at the National Hockey Stadium on Jan 4 and 5.

The competition which is being considered as a warm-up competition for the next World Cup, will be held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is also the venue of the World Cup, from Jan 18 to 26.

The World Cup is scheduled to be held from Feb 28 to March 10.

The Pakistan team coach Khawaja Junaid told Dawn on Sunday that Mohammad Nadeem who had fractured his finger during the training camp would be considered for the selection. Striker Atif Bashir, however, would not be available for the selection due to fitness  problem. Atif Bashir had broken his collar-bone during the 23rd Champions Trophy at Rotterdam, Holland in November this year and could not join the ongoing training camp at the National Hockey Stadium.

Prior to the six-nation tournament, Pakistan will also play two Test matches against Malaysia on Jan 15 and 16. The team will return home from Malaysia on Jan 28 to resume the training camp for the World Cup.