ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: The Pakistan hockey team left Islamabad for Hamburg on Tuesday where they are to compete in a four-nation tournament starting on Friday. Skipper Mohammad Saqlain told newsmen that the boys had undergone intensive training and were all confident of doing well at the tournament where hosts Germany, Holland and Australia will be the other participants.

After the Hamburg tournament that concludes on Aug 14, Pakistan will cross over to Holland to take part in an eight-team event where besides the Hamburg participants on show will be Korea, Spain, India and Argentina.

Pakistan are trying to put together a strong combination for the Champions Trophy this December and the next year’s World Cup in Germany.

“I am not making any tall claims but the way our preparations have gone, I am quite optimistic of achieving good results on this tour,” team coach Asif Bajwa said.

Pakistan have trained in two phases for the back-to-back tournaments in Europe with the first leg taking place in Rawalpindi before the side moved to Islamabad for the final phase.