Pakistan set for Korea tour

Pakistan will arrive on September 6 before beginning joint training the following day. The first practice match is scheduled for September 8, followed by further training sessions on September 9 and 10. The second practice match will be played on September 11, with another joint training session on September 12 before the final practice game on September 13.

The team will return to Pakistan on the night of September 14. The PHF said its selection committee had made no changes to the squad that featured at the World Cup and confirmed that the same group would also represent Pakistan at the Asian Games.

The tour is intended to provide the players with valuable match practice and an opportunity to sharpen their preparations ahead of the Asian Games, the federation said. The joint sessions with South Korea are also expected to help the Pakistan players address weaknesses and fine-tune their combinations before the continental event.

The Asian Games will be an important assignment for Pakistan, who are looking to build momentum after their World Cup campaign. The PHF said the Korea camp and three-match series would give the national team an opportunity to finalise preparations and correct shortcomings before the Asian Games.

Pakistan recently finished 11th in the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. In the Asian Games, Pakistan have been placed in Group B with Malaysia, China, Oman, Uzbekistan and Thailand while Group A carries India, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals which will be held on October 1 with the final to be conducted on October 3. Pakistan will begin their journey with their game against Thailand on September 20.

This will be followed by their show against Uzbekistan on September 22, China on September 24, Malaysia on September 26 and Oman on September 28.