ISLAMABAD, Jul 14 (APP): Pakistan under 21 hockey team will proceed to Germany on July 19 to participate in the four-nation tournament, scheduled to be held there from July 21-27. Teams from Pakistan, Holland, Belgium will feature in seven-day event.
“So far we’ve submitted passports of 14 players and two officials in German Embassy in Islamabad. We will submit passports of remaining 10 players in due course of time as per Germany Embassy policy,” head national junior hockey team told APP on Thursday.
He said Pakistan players would manage to get their visas well in time adding that if there had been no possibility of issuing visas in time, then they (German Embassy) would not have taken our passports.
“We’ve decided to take part in the event to honour our international commitment,” he said.
He said training camp of Pakistan players for the tour was underway at National Hockey Stadium Lahore and would continue till the departure of team.
He said that Pakistan junior team had no international exposure and playing against top European sides in the four-nation tournament would provide much needed experience to them ahead of the Junior World Cup 2016 to be held in India in December.
“The participation in this tournament is very important as it will help us gauge our weaknesses and judge strengths of world’s best sides. After this event we will be in a better position to prepare for world cup,” he added.
