Good news from Ipoh

The Green Shirts remain undefeated after playing four games in the six-team, single-league tournament

After long long time, there is something to cheer from the hockey field. Pakistan top the tables at Azlan Shah Cup being played in the Malaysian city of Ipoh. The Green Shirts — well, currently in a white uniform — remain undefeated after playing four games in the six-team, single-league tournament. Pakistan downed hosts Malaysia 5-4 in the opener before overwhelming Korea 4-0. They then drew to the gritty Japanese 1-1 and defeated spirited Canadians 5-4 to inch closer to the final.

Though this 30^th edition of Azlan Shah Cup is only a contest among the minnows with New Zealand being the only team that has qualified for the upcoming Paris Olympics, Pakistan’s undefeated run in the tournaments is admirable, given the fact that they had last won it in 2003. The only other two times they lifted the Cup was in 1999 and 2000. This means a long victory drought of about 21 years.

While Korea and Canada are out of contention for the final, other contenders, apart from Pakistan (10 points from 4 games), include Japan (7 points from 3 games), Malaysia (6 points from 3 games) and New Zealand (6 points from 4 games). Not only do Pakistan top the points table in terms of wins, but also on goal difference — of 6 — something that is also vital in the context of qualifying for the final game.

While Pakistan’s impressive performance has been a result of the team effort, drag flick specialist Sufyan Khan deserves special mention here for a wonderful hat-trick in the opening game of the tournament — something that did set the tone for Pakistan’s unbeaten run so far. Having last played a final of Azlan Shah Cup in 2011, it would be a decade and a year later that Pakistan would fight for the title. Good luck skipper Ammad Butt! Good luck Team Pakistan!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2024.

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