June 13, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1423

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LAHORE, June 12: The Pakistan hockey team will stay in England instead of returning back home after participating in the Commonwealth Games at Manchester.

The national team will remain in England before flying to Germany to participate in the Champions Trophy scheduled to start there from Aug 31.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) while accepting the recommendations of the national team manager Lt. Col. (retd.) Zafar Ali Khan has decided to change the earlier travel programme of the team to avoid extra travelling.

The Pakistan team was earlier planned to return home from England after the Commonwealth Games and then fly to Germany after attending a short training camp.

The PHF secretary Brig. Mussaratullah Khan told reporters on Wednesday that the difference of Pakistan and European weather could have created problems for the boys and now they would be in better position to acclimatise themselves with the European climate.

He said that the PHF had to bear further expenditure of about Rs 400,000 by extending the stay of the team in England.

Pakistan team which will be picked after holding one- day trials at the National Hockey Stadium on June 15, will start its European tour with a four Test match series against Spain scheduled to be held from July 12 to 20.