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LAHORE: Pakistan will face Canada in their opening match of Olympic hockey qualifying round in Madrid, but their real test will come when they play India, a clash that will be one of the most thrilling matches of the event.

Pakistan takes on Canada on March 2 and plays India on March 6 in the 12-nation elite tournament from which seven will qualify for the Athens Olympic being held in August.

Pakistan has been placed in Pool B, along with arch rival India and Malaysia, New Zealand, Belgium and Canada. Pool A features, Holland, England, Spain, Japan ,South Africa and Poland.

Following is the match programme made available to 'Pakistan Times' here Tuesday by the Pakistan Hockey Federation.

(March 2): South Africa vs. Holland, New Zealand vs. Malaysia, Poland vs. England, Pakistan vs. Canada, Spain vs. Japan, India vs. Belgium.

(Mar 3): Japan vs. Poland, South Africa vs. Spain, Holland vs. England.

(Mar 4): Belgium vs. Pakistan, Malaysia vs. India, Canada vs. New Zealand.

(Mar 5): Japan vs. England, Spain vs. Holland, Poland vs. South Africa.

(Mar 6): New Zealand vs. Belgium, Canada vs. Malaysia, Pakistan vs. India

(Mar 7): England vs. Spain, South Africa vs. Japan, Holland vs. Poland.

(Mar 8): Belgium vs. Canada, India vs. New Zealand, Malaysia vs. Pakistan

(Mar 9): Canada vs. India, Japan vs. Holland, Belgium vs. Malaysia, South Africa vs. England, Spain vs. Poland, New Zealand vs. Pakistan

(Mar 10): REST DAY

(Mar 11): 3rd of pool A vs. 4th of Pool B, 5th of Pool A vs. 6th of Pool B, 3rd of Pool B vs. 4th of Pool A, 5th of Pool B vs. 6th of Pool A, 1st of Pool A vs. 2nd of Pool B, 1st of Pool B vs. 2nd of Pool A.

(Mar 12): Loser match 32nd vs. loser match 34th, winner match 32nd vs. winner match 34th, winner match 31st vs. winner match 33rd.

(Mar 13): Loser match 31st vs. loser match 33rd, loser match 35th vs. loser match 36,winner match 35th vs. winner match 36.

18-member Pakistani squad announced

Pakistan Hockey Federation on Tuesday announced 24-member hockey squad for the Olympic qualifying round being held in Madrid from March 2-14.

The party which comprises 18-member side and six officials was approved by President PHF, General Muhammad Aziz Khan on the recommendations of the National Selection Committee and the team management. This was stated by Brig (retd) Musarrat Ullah Khan, Secretary PHF, in Lahore.

SQUAD

Ahmad Alam, Ali Raza, Sohail Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ghazanfar Ali, Muhammad Saqlain, Dilawar Hussain, Waseem Ahmad, Adnana Maqsood, Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali Khan, Kashif Jawad, Muhammad Nadeem (Captain), Shabbir Hussain, Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Sarwar, Saleem Khalid and Salman Akbar.

Officials are: Col Muhammad Yousaf Baig (manager), Roelant Oltmans (head coach), Tahir Zaman (coach), Roberto Tolentino (video analyst), Ronald Jansen (goalkeeper trainer) and Derek Verder (physiotherapist).

International umpire, Faiz Muhammad Faizi has been appointed by Games Ruling Body, FIH, in the umpires panel.