By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Nov 16 (IANS) Pakistan’s hockey officials believe their team can be a force to reckon with in the World Cup in Delhi next year if it goes on to win the eight-nation Champions Challenge in Argentina.

Pakistan booked their World Cup berth by winning the qualifiers in Lille (France) earlier this month and are now looking to win the Champions Challenge in Salta (Argentina) Dec 6-13.

Coach Shahid Ali Khan says that his boys will have to work hard on certain areas to maintain their winning spree.

“It would be great if we win the Champions Challenge because that would confirm our return to the top level of world hockey,” said Shahid, a former Olympian. “If we win in Argentina, it will mean that our team is ready to take on the top sides in the World Cup in India.

By winning the Lille Qualifiers, four-time world champion Pakistan have made the cut for the 2010 World Cup to be played in the Indian capital from Feb 28-March 13.

Shahid said that Pakistan will have to give its best in Salta to win the tournament and qualify for next year’s Champions Trophy “The tournament in Argentina is going to be really tough and the boys will have to raise their game to win it and qualify for the Champions Trophy,” he stressed.

The coach said that his players need to further improve their fitness, adding that Pakistan will have to work on deep defense during the training camp which is under progress at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore.

“Fitness is the key,” he said. “The boys have achieved rapid improvement in the last few months but I think there is still room for more which is why we will be emphasising on helping them to get fitter before going to Argentina.”

Shahid and fellow team officials also want the team’s defenders to curb a few weaknesses which were underlined during the six-nation World Cup in Lille from October 31-November 8 when they crashed to a surprising 2-3 defeat to minnows Poland.

“There are a few areas that need improvement and defense is one of them,” said the coach. “The defenders need to work on their tackling during the camp.”

Pakistan has picked a 25-man preliminary squad for the Challenge. Seven new players have been added to the 18-man team that won the World Cup Qualifiers.

The Champions Challenge will feature hosts Argentina, Pakistan, Belgium, India, China, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Greenshirts will begin their title campaign in Salta with an easy game against Pool B rivals Canada on December 6. It will be followed by a potentially-explosive match against hosts Argentina on December 8.

Pakistan has been placed in Pool B that also includes South Africa. Pakistan’s old rival India has been bracketed with Belgium, New Zealand and China in Pool A.

The top two teams from each of the groups will play in the semifinals to be held on December 12. The event’s final will be played on December 13 for a place in next year’s Champions Trophy.