Pakistan kick off hockey tour with tense draw

A late goal by the Spanish ensured Pakistan kicked off their European tour with a 2-2 draw against the hosts in Barcelona.

KARACHI: A late goal by the Spanish attack ensured Pakistan kicked off their European tour with a 2-2 draw against the hosts in Barcelona. Forward Shakeel Abbasi scored the first goal of the match in just the third minute before the European side hit back with an equalizer in the 15th.

Waqas Sharif then earned Pakistan a 2-1 lead in the second half but a late goal by Spain four minutes from the finish ensured a draw.

Pakistan assistant coach Ahmed Alam said that the tour is not going to be easy for his players and the performance will determine their future with the team. “The players and the management are taking this tour seriously and we know that we had said that it’s just a training tour, but our aim is to win every match,” Alam told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2010.