Arch-rivals India and Pakistan were on Tuesday clubbed in the same pool in the 2010 hockey World Cup scheduled to be held in the capital from February 28 next year.

Apart from 1975 champions India and four-time winners Pakistan, Pool B also has Australia, Spain, England and South Africa.

Defending champions Germany are the top seeds in Pool A and will meet the Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina in the group phase of the event.

Following the preliminary phase, the best two ranked teams of each pool will proceed to the semifinals, the International Hockey Federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
Pool A: Germany, the Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina

Pool B: Australia, Spain, England, Pakistan, India and South Africa

NZ BOOK CHAMPIONS’ BERTH Meanwhile, in Salta, Argentina, New Zealand qualified for next year’s elite Champions Trophy after scoring a 4-2 win over Pakistan in the final of the Champions Challenge tournament.