LAHORE: Pakistan will play their first match of the International Festival of Hockey against hosts Australia at the State Netball Hockey Centre in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The four-nation tournament also features New Zealand and Japan.

After the single league matches, the top two teams will play the final while the bottom two will feature in the third position playoff.

Australia, the reigning world champions who are No.2 in the FIH rankings, are favourites to win the title in Melbourne. New Zealand, ranked eighth, are expected to offer the toughest competition in the event.

After facing Australia on Wednesday, Pakistan play against New Zealand on Nov 9 and then against Japan on Nov 11.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2017