KARACHI, May 23: Pakistan hockey coach Asif Bajwa on Tuesday expressed hope that his players would bounce back in next month’s Azlan Shah Cup leaving behind pathetic display in World Cup qualifiers in China. Bajwa, who is also manager of the side, said the players finished fourth in the last month's qualifiers due to tiredness.

“It was burnout as boys were playing consecutive hockey and it is the first time that they have got enough rest before the next month's assignment in Malaysia.

I am confident that the team will bounce back,” he told reporters on the opening day of team's training camp at the Hockey Club of Pakistan.

On the first day, 32 players reported at the camp while Shabbir Ahmed will join the team on Wednesday as his flight was delayed from Faisalabad due to bad weather.

Salim Khalid was another player who did not report on the first day. He will return from England in couple of days.

Bajwa said he was optimistic about his team’s chances in the World Cup in Germany this year.

“I am confident the players will be back on track before September's World Cup as we've chalked out an extensive plan for the premier event,” Bajwa said.

On disciplinary matters, the coach said he would not accept any misbehavior and punish players involved in misconduct.

Defending skipper Saqlain's on the field behaviour, he said the matter was not a serious one and Saqlain was unfortunate to get a three-match ban.

The ban had been imposed on Saqlain for hitting an Australian player in August's Hamburg Masters in Germany.

Bajwa, however, justified the six-month ban on Tariq Aziz by the Pakistan Hockey Federation saying he was on fault which led Pakistan's downfall in the final of Commonwealth Games against Australia.

He said the team needed to improve their fitness, defence and attack to become a top team in the world.

Pakistan hockey captain Mohammad Saqlain while talking to newsmen said his side was capable of winning the World Cup but had to improve in three key areas of the game.

The experienced midfielder said the players had to improve their fitness. He said most of his players were fit but still lag behind their rivals, Australia and Spain.

“I believe the biggest cause of concern for us is fitness.

“In today's hockey, only a super-fit player can excel and we need to have players who are super fit to be able to win important matches,” Saqlain said.

He said the second important area for Pakistan was penalty corner and the players had to improve penalty corner attack and defense.

The Pakistan captain said his forwards had to finish matches properly.

He said the Azlan Shah Cup from June 18 to 25 would provide Pakistan a perfect opportunity to try out various combinations.—PPI