December 8, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 13, 1424

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KARACHI, Dec 7: With the home series against Malaysia just a day away, laying of new synthetic turf is yet to be completed at Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP).

Although concerned officials say they have finished their job and are likely to wrap-up on Monday, a lot of work is still pending which is unlikely to be finished before the series starts.

Officials had promised the turf would be ready by Sunday, but workers were still busy in laying the new polygrass 2000 pitch. While some 90 per cent work is over, the levelling and joining of the pieces is yet to be done.

Workers hoped they would complete it by Monday morning, but nothing could be said for sure whether they would be able to meet the deadline.

Pakistan seniors and juniors are to play Malaysia in the series scheduled to start from Tuesday at HCP. Malaysia are due to arrive on Dec 10. Pakistan seniors and

juniors meet in the first game on Dec 9.

It is not only the turf on which work is still in progress, renovation of the stadium, which started few weeks ago, is still being done.

Chairs in the stands and the sitting area are being painted but heaps of bricks and

rolls of old turf behind the goalposts give an ugly look. Besides, bricks at the top of one of the stands’ walls are still broken and need repairs.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ahmad Alam has decided to skip training camp for the series because of “back pain”. He had stayed away from the camp which started Dec 5 citing his uncle’s death as the reason before complaining back pain.

“Ahmad says he is experiencing back pain. He will submit his medical certificate tomorrow. He will not be a part of the team,” assistant coach Tahir Zaman said on Sunday.