BEIJING, April 7: An 18-member Pakistan hockey team reached Beijing on Friday to take part in the World Cup qualifying round to be held in Changzhou (China) from April 12 to 23.

Pakistan has been placed in group “A” along with England, Egypt, Ireland, Belgium and Canada. Group “B” comprises Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, France and New Zealand.

Pakistani team is scheduled to play its first match against Canada on April 12. The top two teams in each group will gain an automatic qualification for the World Cup while the fifth and final slot will be decided between the third and fourth teams from the two groups.

Team manager Saeed Khan expressed his confidence that his team will be the winners in the tournament.

“We are fully satisfied with the selection of the team that has potential to show its dominating position,” he said.—APP