KARACHI The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday announced the itinerary of the men's junior hockey squad which leaves for Hyderabad, India, early on Tuesday morning to feature in the 6th Men's Junior Asia Cup being played there from July 11 to 18.

The team comprising 18 players and six officials, is scheduled to leave on Tuesday morning at 7.00am via Dubai.

Initially it was supposed to be a 10-team competition, however the event had to be rescheduled after China opted out on June 13 and Thailand on June 29 reducing it to an eight-team event divided into two pools. Pakistan who have been placed in Pool 'B' along with Bangladesh, Korea and Oman, play their opening match against Oman at 3.00pm local time on July 11.

Pool 'A' comprises India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Speaking to Dawn on Monday afternoon, junior team's team manager and chief coach Jahangir Ahmed Butt, who appeared to be very confident stated, “ Pakistan play their toughest pool match against Korea on Sunday. After that we only have to concentrate on the next big challenge of taking on India in the final.”

When asked if he felt that the team's shortcomings regarding penalty corner conversions and clearing the ball during counter attacks which he had spoken of after their successful tour of South Africa earlier in April had in any way been worked on during the three-week camp held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad that concluded just three days ago, the manager and chief coach said that he was happy to report that the boys especially our two penalty corner specialists Kashif Ali and Mohammad Atiq have been working very hard to overcome their weaknesses.

To a question regarding Mohammad Atiq and the behavioral problems attributed to him in the past, Jahangir said “It is the coach's job to get the best out of a player on the field and I'm happy to report that we haven't received any complaints about him recently.”

There have also been no new changes made to the squad that played in South Africa.

“We didn't want to make any changes in the squad before a major championship such as the Junior Asia Cup,” Jahangir explained while adding that they did, however, come across some good players in the 36 probables at the camp who would be utilised in future events.

The top six teams in the Junior Asia Cup will qualify for next year's Junior World Cup to be staged jointly by Malaysia and Singapore.