The sequel: Pakistan take on India for a place in hockey final

After a brawl in the 1st match, Pakistan take on India for a place in the final.

KARACHI:

With the arch-rivals locking horns for the second time in the tri-series, Pakistan are looking to move on from the brawl that marred the duo’s first match and move into the final.

The incident saw a number of Pakistan players injured and missing the following match against Australia, who are already through to the final, and today’s match, where even a draw will see Pakistan through, will be a new game altogether.

For Pakistan, the match will be more than to salvage their pride as they were involved in one of the worst clashes on the hockey field that resulted in three India players and one official being banned besides Shakeel Abbasi, the Greenshirts’ captain, serving a one-match punishment.

“It was a bitter clash but we will try to forget it,” team manager Khwaja Junaid told The Express Tribune from Australia. “We want to play the final and will go all-out in today’s game. The players are looking to put on a disciplined show and we’ll use aggression in the game to achieve victory.”

Players not fully recovered

The manager said that Imran Shah, Shafqat Rasool and Haseem Khan have not fully recovered from injuries they suffered during the clash but will be seen on the field today.

Pakistan players applauded

Meanwhile, Junaid said that the Pakistan team received a letter of appreciation from tournament director Graham Napier, praising them for ‘controlling their emotions despite the heated fight’. “Napier termed our players’ behaviour exemplary as they went to the referee rather than retaliating. Abbasi was only banned since he was the captain and his side was involved in a brawl.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2011.