Hockey: Pakistan prepare for Olympics in NZ

Pakistan, once the dominant force in Olympic men's hockey, have chosen New Zealand for their final shakedown before Sydney.

The Pakistanis, ranked in the top five for the Olympics, arrive today to play four tests against the New Zealand men, who failed to qualify.

Pakistan have won eight Olympic medals - three of them gold - but the sport has been hit hard by a drop in player numbers.

But they will be a force in Sydney - for the first time they have a specialised corner flicker, Sohall Abbas.

The New Zealand women, bound for the Olympics, will end their 10-week camp in Wellington this weekend before reassembling in Auckland for a three-test series with the Argentinian women's side.

Herald Online Olympic News