The drought of international sports will be broken on Wednesday when Pakistan take on China in the opening match of four-match hockey test series which explode into action at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday at 2.00 p.m.
Though several individual international sportsmen visited Pakistan in the past few years but China is the first international side visiting Pakistan after 2004 Junior Asia Cup. The second test will be played on Thursday and remaining two test matches will be played in Faisalabad and Lahore. China which shocked Pakistan in 2006 Asian Games semifinals, comprised a dozen players which finished 5th in Gouangzhou Asian Games last year.
Full-back Imran Khan’s team which finished a disappointing 7th in recently held Hockey Champions Trophy in Auckland would be hoping to put a good show against China, who were taught hockey by Pakistan. “We started learning hockey from Pakistan in seventies and now have made a lot of progress in the sports,” Chinese team leader Li Gaochao told reporters at the launching of the trophy of the series. Li Gaochao said his contingent was overwhelmed by the reception and warm welcome they received on arrival at Quaid-e- Azam International Airport. Teams: Pakistan: Salman Akbar, Imran Shah, Muhammad Imran, Kashif Shah, Muhammad Tauseeq, Umar Bhutta, Wasim Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, M.Irfan, Fareed Ahmed, Rizwan Senior, Rizwan Junior, Ali Shan, Haseem Khan, Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Zubair.
China: Jiang Xishang, Su Rifeng, Na Yubo, Sun Long, Liu Xiantang Sun Zhixin, Lou Fenghui (Captain), Chen Jian, Dong Yang, Meng Jun, Hu Iluniren, Ye Liang, Yixian, Subn Tianjun, Wo Wei, Gui Yoingxin, Ao Weibao Song Yi, Xu Rui Zhang Zhinxuan.
