Hosts Bangladesh in tough group

Hosts Bangladesh have been drawn in Pool A alongside strong opponents -- India, Pakistan and Japan -- in the 10th Men's Asia Cup Hockey Tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Dhaka from October 11 to 22.

Pool B features South Korea, Malaysia, China and Oman, informed Bangladesh Hockey Federation's general secretary Abdus Sadeque yesterday.

“The draw took place at the FIH headquarters in Switzerland on July 28 and we have been informed on Monday,” said Sadeque, adding that Bangladesh will start their campaign against Pakistan in one of the two matches of the opening day at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium.

The next two Pool matches against India and Japan will be held on September 13 and 15 respectively.

Coach Mahbub Harun termed Bangladesh's Pool as a tough one, and opined that it would be hard for his team to progress far.

“We have been pitted against tough opponents. It could have been better had we got an opponent like China or Oman,” Harun said. “Now we have to target the place-deciding matches to produce good results because it will be tough to do well against India, Pakistan and Japan in pool matches.”

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh hockey team will leave for China tomorrow to play eight matches against different provincial teams as a part of their preparations for the Asia Cup.