The IHF president KPS Gill while saying it was imperative to give the players maximum international exposure, expressed hope that the matches ``will help in opening up options for Indian hockey". ``Several youngsters will get the chance to play at the highest level, giving our coaches a wider pool to pick the (Asian Games) team from,'' Gill told The Indian Express today.

Gill said that the federation has accepted invitations for the pre-Asian Games tournament -- either a four or a five-nation event -- to be held in Bangkok from November 1-7 as also for the six-nation tournament to be held in Cairo, Egypt fromNovember 13-20. In between, the Indians will be hosting neighbours Sri Lanka for a three-Test series at home between November 9-15. The federation has also agreed to play a four-Test series against Malaysia in the last week of November, though the dates have yet to be finalised.

Gill allayed apprehensions about a possible `burn-out' of the players due to such a hectic schedule, saying that the camps would not be affected and that the probables would be rotated judiciously so as to give ample rest to the `key' players. ``We will not compromise on fitness,'' Gill added however.

While the one-week `debriefing' camp for the 25 Asian Games probables has already commenced at the Sports Authority of India Centre, Bangalore, the main coaching camp for the 36 probables will begin on October 22 and continue till December 3. The players for the various international meets in November will be picked from the camp on the coaches' advice.

Meanwhile Gill while expressing surprise at England's pull-out from ChampionsTrophy to be held in Lahore from October 31, said the IHF would ``react positively if invited for the tournament''. But that is a situation that can arise only if some other teams pull out, since India finished ninth at the World Cup in Utrecht.

South Korea, which finished seventh at the World Cup has already been taken in as a replacement for England.

Curiously none of the teams for the Champions Trophy, Australia, The Netherlands, Spain and Germany have confirmed participation.

CAMPS

1. Debriefing camp: October 5-12, SAI Centre (Bangalore).

2. Main coaching camp: October 22-December 3: SAI Centre (Bangalore)

INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR

1. Pre-Asian Games, Bangkok: November 1-7

2. Three-Test series against Sri Lanka: November 9-15

3. Six-nation tournament, Cairo (Egypt): November 13-20

4. Four-Test series against Malaysia: November end (dates to be finalised)