KARACHI: Fans and former players on Monday expressed relief after Pakistan beat Japan to qualify for next year’s hockey World Cup, but they had little faith in their side going on to repeat the glory of yesteryear.

Pakistan beat Japan 3-1 in the final of the qualifying rounds in the French city of Lille at the weekend, keeping up their proud record of not missing a World Cup since its inception in 1971.

They become the tenth team to qualify for the 12-team World Cup, to be held in New Delhi, India from February 28 to March 13 next year.

“It’s great that we have qualified,” former captain and one-time national coach Islahuddin Siddiqui said.

“But from now on the federation as well as the players will have to do extra effort to compete alongside top teams of the world.”

Siddiqui, a member of Pakistan’s winning team in the inaugural World Cup, said fitness was a key area needing fast improvement.

“If we want to beat teams like the Netherlands, Australia and Germany then we have to improve our physical fitness, and if our players are physically fit only then we can be able to beat top teams.”

Pakistan, who have won three Olympic and four world titles, have failed to win a major tournament since claiming the 1994 World Cup.

They were forced to play the qualifiers after finishing eighth at last year’s Olympics in Beijing, their worst-ever Olympic performance.

Another former captain and coach, Shahbaz Ahmed, said fans have still not been able to digest that Pakistan had fallen as low as having to play qualifiers – and was pessimistic about the team’s World Cup chances.

“We are at the lowest ebb,” said Ahmed, a member of the World Cup winning team in 1994.

“If we plan now the fruit will come after five years and since we have not played the top teams recently, I don’t see any chance of Pakistan reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup.”

Former Olympian and ex-coach Shahnaz Ahmed was similarly negative.

“We don’t have time to prepare for the World Cup,” said Ahmed. “We do not have time for changes and the gap between those who are playing in the team and reserve players is big.

“It is imperative for world hockey that Pakistan comes among the top three-four teams. We need to work very hard for that.”