KARACHI, April 1: Pakistan junior hockey team would undertake three-week tour of Spain and Poland in July, manager Col (Retd) Abdul Rauf said Tuesday.

During their trip to Spain, Pakistan under-19 team will play three Test matches against Spain junior and senior team besides appearing in a five-nation tournament, he said.

Team later will visit Poland where they will also feature in multinational event. The Poland event starts from Aug 6.

Col Rauf said that the basic purpose of taking junior team on European sojourn was to provide them international exposure and prepare them for Asian Junior Cup being held in Lahore in March 2004.

He said prior to that Pakistan juniors will also participate in the four-nation event to be held in Lahore in coming December.

He expressed his delight over the display of Pakistan teenagers in Al-Youm International Hockey event where Pakistan finished runners-up. He said boys has shown great improvement and by playing European teams they learn more which help them in build-up for the Asia Cup.—APP