LAHORE: Pakistan’s national hockey team on Monday left for the tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Pakistan will play bilateral test series in both the countries, said a spokesman of Pakistan Hockey Federation.
“As per the FIH rankings, Australia is currently the world’s top hockey country while New Zealand is at the 8th place”, he added.
The experience gained during these two series would help Pakistan prepare for the all-important Hockey World League’s semifinals to be held in London in June this year which doubles up as the 2018 World Cup qualifier, he said.
The team is Amjad Ali & Mazhar Abbas, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohammad Aleem Bilal, Nawaz Ashfaq, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Tazeem-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Rizwan Junior, Mohammad Atif Mushtaq & M. Faisal Qadir, Mohammad Irfan Junior, Mohammad Umar Bhutta (V.Capt), Abdul Haseem Khan (Captain), Ali Shan, Ajaz Ahmad, Muhammad Dilber, Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob, Muhammad Arslan Qadir & Umair Sarfaraz.
Schedule of 5 Test Matches in New Zealand
March 17, at International Hockey Stadium, Wellington
March 18, at International Hockey Stadium, Wellington
March 20, at International Hockey Stadium, Wellington
March 22, at Trust House Hockey, Wairarapa, Clareville
March 23, at Trust House Hockey, Wairarapa, Clareville
Schedule of 4 Test Matches in Australia
March 28, at Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin.
March 29, at Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin.
March 31, at Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin.
April 1, at Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin.
