CANNOCK, June 5: Pakistan's penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas said on Saturday the change in short corner rule may prove beneficial for him in tri-nation tournament which starts on Sunday.

The rule, which has come into effect from June 1, 2004, will not allow any defender to run at a legitimate shot at during a penalty corner with an intention of blocking the shot with his body.

"It is a new rule but it may give me a bit edge in future including coming Olympics" Sohail Abbas said. "It depends on the opposing team players how they react on my penalty corner strikes on the new rule."

"However opposing players would be facing some pressure to tackle the situation," he said.

Umpires at the Olympic Games have been instructed to penalise a defender in such a situation and award another penalty corner if a defender repeats the offence.

"If this practice is persistent, consideration will be given to awarding a penalty stroke and/or suspending the players concerned," FIH said.-APP