Pakistan hope to conquer blue turf, opponents

Hockey team departs for Azlan Shah Cup with blue surface in mind.

KARACHI: Pakistan hockey team left for Malaysia to take part in the Azlan Shah Cup, aiming to make a mark in the event as well as overcoming the turf blues.

The seven-nation tournament, featuring India, New Zealand, South Korea, Britain, Argentina besides the hosts, will run from May 24 to June 3 and it will be the first time that Pakistan will play on the blue turf that will be used at the London Olympics as well.

Several countries including Australia and India have criticised the innovation, calling it bouncy and slippery, also expressing the dire need for more practice. Pakistan team coach Khwaja Junaid said despite the flak, the blue turf remained an undefined challenge for his ranks.

“It’s a dilemma that we haven’t trained on it yet,” Junaid told The Express Tribune on the eve of team’s departure to Malaysia. “The players are going in with a question mark in their heads. They don’t know how much of their performance will be affected and where they will they end up.”

However, the Olympian added that the team was itching to have a go on the new surface.

“The team is also desperate to experience it and players are very enthusiastic about it. We have told them that until we experience the new surface ourselves, we can't believe all the criticism that it has faced. But I also believe that our players learn quickly and we are hoping that the team will defy this new turf which will also be our main target in the Azlan Shah Cup.”

Meanwhile, the coach added that the team was going well prepared for the tournament.

“It is our last major assignment before the Olympics and we have worked hard on all aspects especially fitness and accuracy. We left no department untouched and followed the training plan closely.”

The coach added that Pakistan were likely to play a warm-up match against England before the tournament.

Junaid also termed the event important, saying the results will have an impact on the London Games.

“Definitely, most of the teams are ranked better than us. Since, we are taking many youngsters along good performance against our opponents will be a huge morale booster before the Olympics.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2012.