KARACHI: Soon after guiding Pakistan to next year’s hockey World Cup to be held in India, chief coach Shahid Ali Khan said he is keeping his fingers crossed and is hoping that the relations between the two countries would improve before the mega event.

Next year’s hockey World Cup will be hosted by New Delhi from February 28 to March 13 and Pakistan has secured their berth in the tournament by winning the qualification event in Lille, France.

“It is a great relief to have qualified for the main rounds but now I am hoping conditions and relations between both countries are considerably better by the time the tournament is held in Delhi,” Pakistan coach and former Olympian goalkeeper Shahid said.

The Pakistan hockey Federation has announced special cash awards for the players after the national team qualified for the World Cup.

“Obviously it is a big step forward for Pakistan hockey although the teams we played in the qualification tournament were not that strong,” Shahid admitted.

He said with their place secured, Pakistan could now start focusing on its preparation for the World Cup.

“Playing in front of Indian crowds is going to be a big challenge for the boys most of whom are young and inexperienced.

“But I have promised them one thing that the experience of playing in India is something they will never forget because the Indians love their hockey,” Shahid said.

The former captain was a member of the national teams that won the 1982 World Cup and Asian Games in India and he still recalls the great feeling of playing in front of Indian crowds.

“Some of them can be quite hostile but overall it is fun and a learning experience playing in India because you are bound to get big crowds,” he said.

Shahid said he hoped the relations between the two countries would improve before the tournament.

“I guess we will be the first to do that in prevailing circumstances but I am hoping that India once again proves lucky for Pakistan hockey,” he said.