LAHORE, Nov 3: Pakistan and India have been placed in pool ‘B’ for March 2 to 13 Olympic qualifying round to be played in Madrid, Spain.

According to a International Hockey Federation (FIH), the 12 participating teams have been divided into pool ‘A’ and ‘B’.

Besides Pakistan and India, other teams of pool ‘B’ are Malaysia, New Zealand, Belgium and Canada.

The Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Japan, South Africa and Poland are in pool `A’.

Canada have been included in the qualifiers after Cuba refused to take part.

France are the first reserve entry in case another country fails to participate.

The participants have been placed in the two pools on the basis of official FIH world ranking. Pakistan are currently fifth in the world ranking.