04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

SYDNEY, Sept 3: Australia's Olympic gold medal-winning men's field hockey team is considering pulling out of December's Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan due to fears of possible terrorist attack, members said on Friday.

Hockey Australia chief executive Lyndon Adamson said he had asked tournament organisers in Pakistan for details of their security plans for the event. The government last month renewed its warning for Australians to avoid all non-essential travel to Pakistan because of possible terrorist attacks.

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," the foreign ministry said in its latest travel advice on Pakistan.

Australia's field hockey team, the Kookaburras, has never missed a Champions Trophy tournament in the 27-year history of the event. But team member Nathan Eglington said some players were concerned about the terrorist threat.

"It has been talked about and there are some guys who are saying they don't think it's the right idea to send a team there," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"As Olympic champions we have automatic qualification for the World Cup, so it's not like we have to go and qualify or anything like that," he said. Adamson said Hockey Australia would think long and hard before pulling out of the Pakistan series.

The Kookaburras won their first Olympic championship last week, upsetting defending champions the Netherlands 2-1 and capturing a record 17th gold for the Australian team. -AFP