Islauddin assures great show from his team in Asia Cup

Chennai, Aug 27 (UNI) Pakistan, who initially dropped out but decied to forward their entry would be approaching the Asia Cup with all seriousness as it is part of the team's preparation for the Champions trophy in December back home and the Beijing Olympics next year, Chief Coach Islahuddin Siddiqui said here today.

Talking to newspersons at the YMCA college of Physical Education ground, where the team sweated it out at a practise session, he said it's a big test for our players. Asia Cup gives us an opportunity to test the new combinations for the two key events.'' Asked about their initial reluctance to enter in the event, the coach said we are happy to be here. We have qualified for Olympics. It does not matter We wanted to test our strength against strong Asian sides like India and Korea.'' Asked whether the team will be hoping to emerge the winner , Islahuddin said ''at the moment we are not bothered about the result.

But we want to test certain things,'' Asked whether he would get enough time to prepare for the two big events, he said he had taken over as coach just three months back.

It takes at least four years to mould a good team. There's still time left for the Champions Trophy. Beijing Olympics is still a long way to go,'' he pointed out.

Pakistan would play attacking hochey in the Asia Cup. At the camp, a lot of emphasis was on restoring attacking hockey'', he said.

On changes in the team, he said penalty corner specialist Imran Warsi has been called up for the Asia Cup.

He said Warsi had been recalled after recovering from injury and showed good form at the Karachi camp. We are grooming five other penalty corner specialists. But I am sure Warsi will prove his worth on the field.'' UNI VV KVV BJR GC2100