LAHORE, Sept 25: Pakistan hockey team will participate in six international competitions in 2002-2003 season.

The team will play in two international contests in 2002 and four in 2003.

According to the itinerary approved by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) general council for 2002-2003 the first international activity of the team will be the participation in the 14th Asian Games to be held in Busan, South Korea from Sept 29 to Oct 14. The team has already left for Busan.

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has allotted a five-Nation tournament to Pakistan which is scheduled to be held in Lahore from Dec 17 to 22.

But the tournament being staged in Pakistan is doubtful because foreign teams are reluctant to visit Pakistan due to security concern.

The first international event of 2003 will be the Azlan Shah Cup at Kuala Lumpur from March 18 to 28. Later, the team will play back-to-back two four-nation tournament to be held in Germany and Holland in May.

The last participation in the international event of the team will be the 25th Champions Trophy to be held in Holland from Aug 16 to 24.

The national junior team will have two tours during the same period. 

The junior team will compete in Akhbar Al-Youm International Tournament which is being held in Cairo, Egypt from Oct 11 to 18 this year. In 2003 the junior team will visit England, Germany and Holland in June and July.

National women team will take part in the second Asian Women Cup to be held in Singapore from Jan 18 to 26. A foreign women team will visit Pakistan in June. The details are being finalised in this connection.

Following is the full activity programme of the PHF for the years 2202-2003:

2002. Sept 29 to Oct 14: Asian Games/Busan, South Korea. Oct 11 to 18: Akhbar Al-Youm Intl. Tournament/Cairo (Jnr team). Oct 25 to Nov 5: President Gold Cup. Karachi. Dec 17 to 22: Five-nation Cup/Lahore. Jan 4-12: Quaid-e-Azam Cup in Karachi. 2003.

Jan 18 to 26: Second AHF Women Cup in Singapore.

Jan 20 to 30: National Junior Championship in Gojra.

Feb 3 to 8: Preliminary round for departments at Karachi and for provinces at Peshawar.

Feb 17 to 27: Final round at Lahore.

March 18 to 28: Agha Khan Cup in Rawalpindi.

March 18 to 28: Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

May 10 to 18: Hazara Cup in Abbotabad.

May 10 to 18: 4-Nation tournament in Germany/Holland.

May (dates yet to decide): National Women Championship.

June/July: Junior team’s visit to England/Germany/Holland.

June/July: Foreign Women team visit Pakistan.

Aug 16 to 24: Champions Trophy in Amstelveen, Holland.

Aug 20 to 28: Gen. Musa Cup in Quetta.

In August: Three clinics for umpires and as many for coaches.