LAHORE, Feb 21: The chief coach of the Indian hockey team considers the ongoing six-match series against Pakistan as practice for next year’s World Cup while Pakistan coach takes it as morale booster before the Commonwealth Games.

“ So far we have not tested our new players in any big competition and this series serves the purpose,” Rajinder Singh told a press conference on Tuesday.

The Indian team with 10 new players lost all three matches of the first leg held in India and arrived to play as many matches of the second leg in Pakistan.

“Hopefully, we will get two or three players from this series to include them in the World Cup squad,” the Indian coach said.

“The Indians have played with their full available strength and gave a good fight to Pakistan as the results were close,” Asif Bajwa, Pakistan coach, said.

“The series gives us a good start at the beginning of the year 2006 which will help us morally and psychologically to perform well in next month’s Commonwealth Games,” Asif said.

He admitted the Pakistan team lacked in penalty-corner conversion but added the new curve of the hockey-stick was the prime reason for it.

“After the series, we will work more on this and hopefully overcome the shortcomings,” Asif said.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has reduced the curve of hockey-stick to 25mm from 55mm from Jan 1.

“The change has weakened the smash. But it has certainly reduced risk of injuries to defenders as has been the case in lethal drag-flick from the previous curve,” he said.

The Pakistani coach said that the Astroturf at the third match played at Jalandhar was bumpy.

He said Pakistan had been giving chances to the new players and a maximum number of youngsters would be tested, setting aside the outcome of the matches in Pakistan.

Rajinder said that his team had been committing mistakes in the circle and paid the penalty.

He said that the new curve not only lessened the force of the hit but also reduced the swing of the ball.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Saqlain was optimistic for more wins, saying his team had good combination.

He said that 3-0 lead was encouraging and he would try to wrap it up with more convincing margins.

Saqlain said that all the players were fit.

Indian captain Ignace Tirkey said that despite being 3-0 down the morale of the boys was high and they were eager and had the ability to come back.

“My boys came together only two days before the start of the series and are improving day by day and I expect better results from the them in next games,” he said.

Rajinder Singh was in favour of annual series between the two neighbouring countries, saying it could help the two arch-rivals to compete European countries.

“The European tours are costly and also give less number of Test matches but this series is helping a lot to achieve the purpose of gaining match temperament and it should be held twice a year,” he said.

Meanwhile, two teams crossed Wagah border.

The Pakistan team arrived at time but the Indians’ arrival was delayed for four hours due to visa problems.

The Indian team had visas that allowed them to cross border either by bus or air. Later, it got entry after completing necessary documents.

The delayed arrival deprived them of scheduled practice session on Tuesday evening.

The first match of the second leg will be held at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday, the second at Faisalabad (Feb 24) and third in Rawalpindi (Feb 26).

Indian contingent comprises 33 members, including 19 players, six officials, three officials of the Indian Hockey Confederation and five former Olympians.

India:

Goalkeepers: Bharat Kumar, Adrian D’Souza.

Fullbacks: Kanwalpreet Singh, Harpal Singh, Raghunath.

Midfielders; V.S Vinay, Vikram Pillay, Ignace Tirkey, Prabodth Tirkey, Sandeep Singh.

Forwards: Rajpal Singh, Didar Singh, Tushar Khandker, Tejbifr Singh, Arjun Halappa, Adam Sinclair, Shivender Singh, hari Prasad, Willam Xalxo.

Officials:

Manager: A.H Nizamuddin. Chief coach: Rajinder Singh (JR).

Coach: Clarence Lobo. Trainer: Sampath Kumar.

Physio: Ravi Kankamedala.

Doctor: Ravindra Kumar.

IHF officials: S.K Gupta, Phul Kanwar and Peer Mohammad.

Olympians: Balbir Singh (SR), Harmik Singh, Baskaran, Gurbux Singh, Balwinder Singh.

PAKISTAN.

Goalkeepers: Salman Akbar, Nasir Ahmed;

Full-backs: Zeeshan Ashraf, M Imran, Imran Warsi;

Half-backs: Imran Khan, Muhammad Saqlain (captain), Dilawar Bhatti, Adnan Maqsood, Sajjad Anwar.

Forwards Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali Khan (vice-captain), Shakeel Abbasi, Tariq Aziz, Shabbir Hussain, Adnan Zakir, Mudassar Khan, Waqas Sharif, Shabbir Khan, Muhammad Zubair.