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ISLAMABAD Looking for a quick tune-up, the Pakistan hockey team head to England this summer in a hope to get in shape before the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Pakistan play a three-match Test series against England scheduled between June 30 and July 3.
Speaking to Dawn on Thursday, Secretary, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa said 'The upcoming tour would provide the national team, especially its junior members, with a good chance of understanding European-style hockey.'
England's last competitive clash with Pakistan came in the fifth place playoff at the 2006 BDO World Cup.
'The PHF will try arranging more matches with European teams, including Ireland and Wales, as we are facing a tough competition from some of them in the qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup,' said the former Olympian.
There are going to be three qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup to be played at three venues — Lille(France), Auckland (New Zealand) and Dubai (UAE) — in November, and Pakistan are expected to feature in the one at Dubai.
'We intend giving more exposure to our junior players in the upcoming tour rather than to the experienced lotas they [the juniors] will also be in better form after having played the Junior World Cup,' he said.
'My top priority after the UK tour will be to arrange a few matches against China in the summer, as being in good form, they are playing competitive hockey,' Bajwa pointed out.
