02 March 2004	Tuesday	10 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 1: Pakistan juniors will have year's first international outing when they meet The Netherlands juniors in the first encounter of the four-match hockey series on Wednesday.

Following the first match to be played at Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) at 3.00pm, the Dutch under-21 will play games on March 4, 6 and 7. It will be followed by another four-match series against the Malaysian juniors at the same venue. Pakistan juniors are scheduled to face Malaysia on March 10, 11, 13 and 14.

Both the series are being considered as a run-up to 10-nation Junior Asia Cup which is to be hosted by Pakistan at Karachi's HCP from April 20 to 29. The Cup will also serve as the qualifying round of the Junior World Cup in The Netherlands next August.

Pakistan junior team manager Jahangir Butt said his side would win the series since it had beaten the Dutch recently. But he refrained from commenting on the Malaysians.

"Our junior side had defeated Dutch juniors last year and I think we are capable of doing it again. But we are not aware of Malaysians' potential. "Last year it was Malaysian senior team which toured Pakistan. It is yet to be seen what is the potential of their junior side. Malaysian juniors are also playing in India. But we don't know the results of the matches," he said.

Malaysian senior team played a triangular series last December involving Pakistan senior and junior outfits under German coach Paul Lissek. Pakistan senior team won the series.

Jahangir, however, said irrespective of the results, both series would help the team management evaluate and form a formidable squad for the Junior Asia Cup - the most important event for Pakistan. "All the players are fit and I hope they perform well against The Netherlands day after tomorrow," the manager said.