KARACHI, July 9: The visiting Chinese hockey team will start their Pakistan training tour when they take on newly selected Pakistan Juniors at Pakistan Steel Sports Complex on Thursday.

The match which start at 3.30 p.m. will be a good test for Pakistan teenagers who are due to embark an extensive tour of Europe on July 21.

Chinese team which lost to Pakistan senior 8-0 in Busan Asian Games, last August had a encouraging tour of Malaysia recently where they held hosts to 1-1 draw while losing the other two matches.

Superfit Chinese, which arrived on Tuesday had a training session on Wednesday in preparations for their match against Pakistan Juniors.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee have picked four new boys in their forward line which included Kashif Yaqoob, Muhammad Arshad, Khurram Shahzad Butt and Asif Bilal.

Pakistan got good deep defence in goal-keepers Shakir Munir and Adeel Anwar, full backs Ikhlaq Ahmed and Tariq Imran and experienced half line in Muhammad Imran, Imran Khan and Muhammad Khalid Mahmood.

Besides play another practice game against same combination on Friday, Chinese will play two games against Pakistan Seniors on July 13 and 15. The visiting side will also play a an exhibition game against a veteran side on July 16.

PHF has arranged the tour on the request of Chinese Hockey Federation. PHF is providing boarding to them while Pakistan Steel is providing free lodging to the Chinese contingent.—APP