Critics laud hockey title
Delight met with urge to overcome mistakes in time for Champions Trophy.
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s shocking win against Australia has impressed the team’s critics who termed the trophy-lifting performance against the world champions on their home soil a positive sign ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy.
Pakistan beat Australia 4-3 after letting in 13 goals against the same opposition when they met twice in the league matches. It was the first win for the Greenshirts against the world’s top-ranked team since 2005 when they beat Netherlands.
Olympian Samiullah Khan, who rarely praises the team’s performance, remained quite impressed with the triumph.
“It was a special win,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “I’m happy with the win because Australia felt they were invincible at home.
“However, this should not be the ultimate goal of the team. There were many weaknesses which were exposed on the tour, most importantly the goal difference.
“Our defence needs improvement as we conceded about 20 goals in just five matches.”
Mohammad Saqlain, a bitter critic of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), also praised the team for the win. However, he added that the team needs to develop consistency.
“We need to be consistent. In one match, we perform so well and in the next, we lose heavily. It shows there is a great deal of inconsistency in the team.”
Meanwhile, chief selector Hanif Khan hailed the title-winning show, saying that it will lift the confidence of the team.
“It was a very tough match,” he said of the final. “The team showed strong nerves by beating Australia in their own backyard. The win has also improved our chances of finishing in the top-four in the Champions Trophy which help our medal chances in the London Olympics.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.
Pakistan’s shocking win against Australia has impressed the team’s critics who termed the trophy-lifting performance against the world champions on their home soil a positive sign ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy.
Pakistan beat Australia 4-3 after letting in 13 goals against the same opposition when they met twice in the league matches. It was the first win for the Greenshirts against the world’s top-ranked team since 2005 when they beat Netherlands.
Olympian Samiullah Khan, who rarely praises the team’s performance, remained quite impressed with the triumph.
“It was a special win,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “I’m happy with the win because Australia felt they were invincible at home.
“However, this should not be the ultimate goal of the team. There were many weaknesses which were exposed on the tour, most importantly the goal difference.
“Our defence needs improvement as we conceded about 20 goals in just five matches.”
Mohammad Saqlain, a bitter critic of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), also praised the team for the win. However, he added that the team needs to develop consistency.
“We need to be consistent. In one match, we perform so well and in the next, we lose heavily. It shows there is a great deal of inconsistency in the team.”
Meanwhile, chief selector Hanif Khan hailed the title-winning show, saying that it will lift the confidence of the team.
“It was a very tough match,” he said of the final. “The team showed strong nerves by beating Australia in their own backyard. The win has also improved our chances of finishing in the top-four in the Champions Trophy which help our medal chances in the London Olympics.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.