KARACHI, Nov 12: Pakistan will play a warm-up game against Canada before the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 27, coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan said on Monday.

This will be the only practice game before the elite eight-nation competition which commences from Nov 29.

Olympian Manzoor said Canada is not a competing team in the Champions Trophy but local organizers in Malaysia had allocated a warm-up game against them.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has appointed Zakauddin as chief coach of the team for the Champions Trophy in place of injured Islahuddin.

Zakauddin, a former Pakistan captain, who is also the chief selector, will be returning from Lahore on Tuesday when the camp training resumes after a day’s rest on Monday.

The Pakistan team will be flying to Kuala Lumpur on Nov 24 and will face world champions Germany in the opening match of the event on Nov 29.

Olympic champions Australia, Great Britain, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain and hosts Malaysia are the other teams taking part in the championship.—APP