Pakistan face Australia in hockey series opener

Greenshirts hopeful of a positive start in nine-a-side format.

KARACHI: In what will be the first official battle in the newly introduced nine-a-side format, Pakistan will meet hosts Australia today in the opening match of the International Super Hockey Series in Perth.

Besides Pakistan and Australia, India and New Zealand are also competing in the tournament being played under the International Hockey Federation’s improvised rules to make the game more exciting. The altered rules include matches featuring halves of 15 minutes each, as well as a wider goal.

In a bid to prepare for the format, the national team has played two practice matches in Australia. The first match saw them defeat Australia ‘A’ 2-1 with penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas and Mohammad Rashid scoring against a side that included six members of the Australian national team.

However, in the 15 minutes of play possible in the second practice game against New Zealand, Pakistan were trailing 1-3 before the match was called off early.

‘We’re ready to prove our mettle’

Pakistan team manager Khwaja Junaid said the players have acclimatised well to the conditions.

“The weather here is different from home but the players have adjusted well,” Junaid told The Express Tribune from Perth. “The team is ready to prove its mettle in the new version. We’ll be looking to capitalise on the win we secured against Australia ‘A’.”

The Olympian believed that the event was a good chance for players to prepare for the Champions Trophy and the Olympics.

“The performance of every player comes into notice in this format,” he said. “It’ll prepare us for major events.”

After playing against the hosts, the team will meet New Zealand tomorrow before taking on arch-rivals India on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2011.