In such a big competition no team is an easy prey. Despite the withdrawal of the Olympic champions Australia (on security grounds), the rest of the participating teams are also tough opponents. Pakistan captain Wasim Ahmed, however, is upbeat about the prospects of his charges doing well in the event.

As the forthcoming Champions Trophy returns to Pakistan after a long interregnum of six years, captain Wasim Ahmed is upbeat about the prospects of his charges doing well in the event.

"In such a big competition no team is an easy prey. Despite the withdrawal of the Olympic champions Australia (on security grounds), the rest of the participating teams are also tough.

S aid W asim talking to many changes after Athens, we are this scribe at Lahore's National Hockey Stadium.Facing such a testing line-up of teams, Pakistan still have the ability tougher than what they to produce good results not because experienced in their comprehensive it has home advantage but alsobecause, to quote Wasim, "we are to raise the level of our developing into a fine outfit".

Wasim believes that Pakistan have from the Indian series. That said, I a good chance of emerging at the top or somewhere closer to it because the whole team has done a an excellent account of itself". good job in the recent series against Talking about the India series, the India. "We have left the disappointment of the Olympic Games behind us, and in spite of so opponents", combining well",

S aid he.Wasim is not oblivious to the fact that the contests would be far series win against India. "We have performances quite a few notches am positive that this Pakistan team has the capacity to do so and give Pakistan captain said that the team was a bit tired as they got very littl~.

'We have to raise the level of our performances quite a few notches from the Indian series. That said, I am positive that this Pakistan team has the capacity to do so and give an excellent account of itself'

time after the Olympics. "We did not have enough time to even have proper training, still we won the series. "The situation is relatively different now as we have had time enough time between the events to get a proper rest," he said.

'We need to perform on the ground and have to take every match with renewed passion. I have every hope that if we are able to do so, we would be able to make the final'

"The Champions Trophy every match is more or less like a final, as often there are no comebacks. Sometimes not winning a single match condemns a side to the classification game for the fifth sixth position instead of playing for gold".

Wasim anticipates that every team other than Spain and New Zealand would field an outfit slightly different than the one at the Olympic Games. "Spain and New Zealand would be entering the event at full strength. And both these two teams would be hard to beat, especially Spain and even we cannot take the defending Champions Holland lightly either," said Wasim, quickly adding that India too have a good track record at Lahore.

With skipper Nadeem, Ali Raza. and Ahmed Alam having called it a day, Pakistan too has seen three changes in its squad since the Athens Olympics. Wasim however believes that the youngsters are good enough to fill the breach. "The return of experienced pivot Mohammad Saqlain - made to sit out the Olympics on disciplinary grounds - too is a positive development.

While Adnan Maqsood is a good understudy for the position, but being a youngster he needs time to mature and be good enough to man the critical position," said he.

The Pakistan captain has great faith in his bunch of forwards Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali Khan, Kashif Jawad, Shabbir Ahmed,Shakeel Abbasi and Imran Warsicoming up good and score goals.

The young and ebullient Warsi, Wasim believes, has the potential to surprise everyone during the champions trophy.

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