Event delay pleases Rugby coach

More time to practice, says Malik.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s rugby coach Rizwanur Rab Malik has welcomed the postponed fixtures in the 2011 Asian Five Nation rugby tournament, terming it a blessing in disguise as the squad will get more time to train for the competition.

The fixtures, which were due to start from June 10, will now take place from June 22 due to the non-availability of the Division III teams.

Pakistan will play two matches in Jakarta and, according to Malik, the squad is focusing on wining the semi-final against Guam. They will then take on either China or Indonesia in the final.

A loss against Guam, however, will result in a relegation battle which will decide who gets eliminated from Division III.

“The postponement is good news for us,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “We play the A5N matches in the first week of June every year and that has been a struggle. It’s very hot and humid and last year we lost to Iran because of the thunderstorm where we had to stop the match for 22 minutes.”

Malik has been conducting the camp in Islamabad and Lahore on alternative weekends for the last three months. He has shortlisted 60 players from the initial 150 and will further cut it down to 24 that will make the national squad.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2011.