'Slow starters' Pak to go all out against India, Spain during hockey World Cup

Karachi, Feb.25 (ANI): Pakistan hockey coach Shahid Ali Khan has said his team would come out all guns blazing during the inaugural match against India and its next encounter against Spain in Hockey World, which is scheduled to kick start on February 28 in New Delhi.

Acknowledging the fact that his team is a slow starter, Khan said there is no room for any complacency, as any bad result in either of the two matches can severely dent Pakistan's hopes of reaching the semi-final of the quadrennial event.

"Our match schedule doesn't allow us much breathing space. It's pretty clear that we cannot afford to make a slow start. We have India in our first match and then it's Spain and we have to win both the games to keep ourselves on track for a place in the semi-finals because things will get tougher for us against England and Australia," The News quoted Khan, as saying.

"We have to win against both India and Spain to put ourselves in a strong position to make it to the semis. We will go all out to do that," he added.

Pakistan is placed in Group B along with arch -rivals India, South Africa, Spain England and the title contenders Australia.

The green shirts would begin their assignment in World Cup with a practice match against Canada on today (Thursday) evening. Their second and last warm-up match will be against defending champions Germany on Friday. (ANI)