March 09, 2008	Sunday	Safar 30, 1429

KARACHI, March 8: Pakistan hockey authorities have managed to arrange an eight-match series against South Africa for the national junior team that is scheduled to play this summer’s Asia Cup tournament in Hyderabad, India.

A top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official said on Saturday that the South African hockey association has agreed to host Pakistan juniors for a full series during April and May.

Secretary PHF Khalid Mahmood said the series in South Africa will help the junior team prepare for the Junior Asia Cup, to be held in July.

The Junior Asia Cup will serve as the qualifying rounds for the 2009 Junior World Cup to be jointly hosted by Malaysia and Singapore.

Pakistan were left looking for international games for their youth team after the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) took a sudden decision to switch the Junior Asia Cup, which was initially supposed to take place in New Delhi this October, to Hyderabad in July.

Earlier, the PHF had decided to play a four-nation tournament in Moscow among other international junior assignments in preparations for the Junior Asia Cup.

But the change of dates forced them to look to other options and after several attempts the PHF has succeeded in tying up a series against South Africa.

The PHF secretary further said the details of the series will be finalised next week.

National junior team manager Jahangir Butt was delighted at the confirmation of the series against South Africa, saying the series would help his charges get ready for the Junior Asia Cup.

“We want to play about 14, 15 matches before going to India for the Junior Asia Cup,” he said.

Pakistan’s juniors are now likely to assemble in the third week of this month to prepare for the tour of South Africa.

The PHF is likely to hold the national junior training either in Karachi or Lahore.—Agencies