LAHORE, Nov 10: Pakistan hockey coach Asif Bajwa on Thursday said Australia, Spain and India were strong rivals in the forthcoming Champions Trophy to be hosted by India in Chennai from Dec 10.

The coach said he rated Australia as one of the toughest oppositions since the team had always been an unpredictable side.

For Asif defending champions Spain were the strong rivals as he felt they had improved a lot and were European champions as well.

“Though Spain is a tough side, Pakistan will not allow them to repeat their performance against us they showed in last edition in Lahore,” he told reporters after a training session at National Hockey Stadium.

Asif said India would be a different side with the induction of nine international players who hade been called back after resting for several months.

“Having the home advan-

tage, India will be difficult rivals and I can’t predict any thing against this side,” he said.

He said physical fitness test was conducted on the first day of the training camp and “surprisingly” all probables gave satisfactory performance. “I believe probables followed the training programme given to them as they all passed the physical test successfully,” the coach said.

Out of 33 probables called for the camp 31 appeared on the first day.

“We will know by Friday whether Ghazanfar Ali will join the camp. Ishtiaq has been ruled out after a wrist fracture,” he said.

He said final trials to select the team were likely to be held either on Nov 18 or 19.