Karachi, Aug 19 - Four-time champions Pakistan will be featuring in the World Cup hockey qualifiers for the first time and are aware that a failure will push their hockey to abysmal depths.

'We have no option but to win the World Cup qualifying tournament,' said Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ashraf, a seasoned defender.

'We will adopt a do-or-die strategy in the event because we have to qualify for the World Cup,' he added.

Pakistan have began preparations for the qualifiers and have set up a conditioning camp in Lahore. Several rookies from the national junior squad have been drafted in the camp in a bid to pump fresh blood into the team.

Pakistan has never missed a World Cup since the event's inception in 1971 in Barcelona. Pakistan won the inaugural title and then went on to clinch three more titles in 1978 in Buenos Aires, 1982 in Mumbai and 1994 in Sydney. Pakistan has reached the World Cup final six times.

However, Pakistan hockey is in a shambles and the country's national team has not won a major title since the 1994 World Cup.