May 06, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1429

LAHORE, May 5: Pakistan hockey captain Zeeshan Ashraf said the Azlan Shah Cup and the European tour were last chances for his players to overcome their shortcomings before the Beijing Olympics.

He was talking to reporters before departure of the squad to Ipoh, Malaysia, on Monday night.

On the 40-day tour, Pakistan would take part in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and then proceed to Germany, France, Belgium and Ireland.

Zeeshan said the players were in perfect shape for both the assignments and he was hopeful to win the Azlan Shah Cup.

“We are quite capable to beat the teams like Argentina, India, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium and Malaysia, and I am hoping for top position,” he said.

Three strong teams like Australia, Holland and Germany are not taking part in the Malaysian event.

The 18-member squad would leave for Germany from Ipoh to start the European tour.

“There is a great opportunity for us to hone our skills in the two-Test series against Germany and in some side matches,” he added.

The captain said his side had faced some problems in the short-corner area on the tour of China but now the nation would see a remarkable improvement.

Half-line was also in a better position as good work was done in the training camp, Zeeshan said.

Pakistan’s last assignment on the European tour is a four-nation tournament in Dublin, Ireland.

Canada and Great Britain are the other two teams besides Pakistan and the hosts to lock horns for the trophy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Khalid Mahmood said the federation put in all efforts to engage top teams in the Azlan Shah Cup but only one top-ranking team of Germany which was ahead of Pakistan agreed to play.

“We contacted Holland but their schedule was busy,” he said.

Khalid dismissed the impression that Holland had refused to play against Pakistan.

“It is wrong that Holland were not ready to play against us. Instead, they had a busy programme, so they informed the PHF about their non-availability,” he said.

The PHF secretary also dismissed the impression that France would not field its national team against Pakistan.

“France had a plan to play side matches after being ousted from the Olympics but later they agreed to play two Test matches against us,” he asserted.

Khalid, however, refused to disclose the estimated cost of the 40-day tour.

“I don’t know the exact expenditure of the tour. Even if I have any information, I will not share it with the press,” he said.

Earlier, five players, who could not appear before the German embassy in Islamabad due to their engagement with the Junior team in South Africa, were interviewed by the embassy.

Later, all the 18 players and five officials of the squad were issued visas.

Coach Naveed Alam accompanied the five players to Islamabad and returned with them directly to the Lahore airport to join rest of the members of the squad.

The Azlan Shah Cup starts from Thursday with Pakistan playing their first match against Malaysia.

Schedule of Europe’s tour:

Germany:

May 21: 1st Test at Moenchengladba.

May 22: 2nd Test at Cologne.

May 24: Side match at Rot-Weisse.

May 26: Side match at Rot-Weisse.

France:

May 29: First Test at Letoukuet.

May 30: 2nd Test at Letoukeut.

Belgium:

June 5: Match against Belgium’s U-21 team.

June 7: 1st Test.

June 8: 2nd Test.

From June 9 to 16: Four-nation tournament in Dublin, Ireland.