12 October 2004	Tuesday	26 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Oct 11: Pakistan hockey captain Waseem Ahmad said on Monday that eight-match series against India would help the team prepare for the Champions Trophy to be played here in December.

He said newly inducted players lacked in some departments but added they earned good experience by playing in the series which would help them improve their skills. Waseem said the series should continue on regular basis as it was beneficial for both the countries.

Pakistan and India staged four matches each of the series which was revived after five years. The penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas felt happy over creating the new record of scoring highest number of goals, breaking the previous mark of 167 goals by Paul Litjens of the Netherlands.

Sohail achieved the feat when he scored 268th goal against the Indian team in the seventh match of the series in Amritsar. He had started his career playing against India.

Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans has left for his home country, the Netherlands, while the remaining squad reached here from India after winning the series 4-2. Surprisingly, not a single official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation was at the airport to welcome the winning squad.