Times Of India

KARACHI: Four-time champions Pakistan will be featuring in the World Cup hockey qualifiers for the first time and are aware that a failure will push their hockey to abysmal depths.

“We have no option but to win the World Cup qualifying tournament,” said Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ashraf, a seasoned defender.

“We will adopt a do-or-die strategy in the event because we have to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.

Pakistan have began preparations for the qualifiers and have set up a conditioning camp in Lahore. Several rookies from the national junior squad have been drafted in the camp in a bid to pump fresh blood into the team.

Pakistan has never missed a World Cup since the event’s inception in 1971 in Barcelona. Pakistan won the inaugural title and then went on to clinch three more titles in 1978 in Buenos Aires, 1982 in Mumbai and 1994 in Sydney. Pakistan has reached the World Cup final six times.

However, Pakistan hockey is in a shambles and the country’s national team has not won a major title since the 1994 World Cup.

“The only way we can revive our hockey is by winning a major title,” said Zeeshan who is hoping that his team will click in the World Cup qualifying tournament this November.

The International Hockey federation (FIH) is planning to stage three qualifying events this year with the first taking place in Lille (France) followed by one in New Zealand. Malaysia
is expected to host the third event. The Pakistanis are expected to feature in the first qualifying tournament in Lille.

The winner of each of the three events will make the cut for the World Cup to be hosted by India February 28 to March 13 next year.

Pakistan came close to securing a direct berth for the 2010 World Cup when they reached the final of the Asia Cup in Malaysia this May. But they lost to Korea in the title clash.