KARACHI: Pakistan are confident of their performance in the Asia Cup hockey starting in May but feel they will face tough competition from defending champions India.

In a bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Pakistan will be targeting India in this May’s Asia Cup to be played in Dubai. New Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan said on Friday that he sees India as the main hurdle in his quest to help the Greenshirts regain the Asia Cup crown and qualify for the next year’s World Cup in India. “For us India will be the team to beat in Dubai,” said Shahid, a Olympian who has been entrusted with the responsibility to help Pakistan win the Asia Cup to be played at the Dubai Sports City May 8-15.

The Asia Cup-winning team will earn a direct slot in the 2010 World Cup. India as the host country has already qualified for the biennial spectacle.

Before the Asia Cup, Pakistan and India will meet in the five-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Malaysia in April. Former champions Pakistan, ranked number eight in the world, will join New Zealand (world No 7), India (11), Malaysia (15) and Egypt (20) in the Azlan Shah Cup to be played April 6-12.