Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Pakistan held by South Korea

Hockey team to face India in fifth-place playoff today.

KARACHI:

Former player Wasim Feroze dubbed the Pakistan hockey team as a ‘group of average players’ after the Greenshirts drew their last pool match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup against South Korea 2-2 in Ipoh, Malaysia yesterday.

The Koreans will now contest the third-place playoff against New Zealand with the Greenshirts now due to face India for fifth place today.

“This is a team that is full of average players,” Feroze told The Express Tribune.

“They are not match-winners. Pakistan were fortunate to win against New Zealand but after that it has been a disappointing run as they have been either thrashed or held to a draw.”

He added that things were unlikely to change under the current Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) setup.

“The current management needs to be changed otherwise Pakistan’s freefall in hockey will continue. Fresh faces will bring some hope.”

The Greenshirts were also on the receiving end against Australia in their second match where they conceded six goals before going down to India 3-1 in the following match.

In the next match, Pakistan were held by Malaysia before recording another draw against South Korea.

Pakistan started off steady with Salman Hussain opening their account in the 17th minute.

However, Hyun Hye Sung equalised in the second-half. The sea-saw match continued with Abdul Haseem Khan swinging it back in Pakistan’s favour with a 47-minute strike. An own goal through Muhammad Irfan in the 53rd minute levelled the score again and the Greenshirts had to remain satisfied with a draw.

Feroze hoped the team would salvage some pride against India. “It won’t be easy as they’ve already beaten us in the pool stage. The management needs to ensure that players learn from their mistakes, otherwise it would be another heavy loss for Pakistan.”

Australia to meet Malaysia in final

Meanwhile, world champions Australia will contest hosts Malaysia in the final after edging out the tournament’s defending champions New Zealand.

Australia booked their place with a 3-2 win over the Kiwis, while the Malaysians finished their preliminary round with a 2-2 draw with India.

It will be the eighth final appearance for the Australians, who have made good on all but two of those chances, while the Malaysians, who have never won, will play in their fourth cup final.

Australian assistant coach Graham Reid predicted a tough final considering the atmosphere, which favours the home team.

“But we are looking forward to it,” said Reid. “There is no question that it will be a high quality match ... the Malaysians have a well-balanced side.”

Wasim Feroze

“They are not match-winners. Pakistan were fortunate to win against New Zealand but after that it has been a disappointing run as they have been either thrashed or held to a draw.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.