Pakistan aiming for an Aussie upset

Pakistan hockey manager Khawaja Junaid remains hopeful his side can upset Australia as the teams face off today.

ATHLETES’ VILLAGE, NEW DELHI: Pakistan hockey manager Khawaja Junaid remains hopeful his side can upset Australia as the teams face off in a crucial group match today.

While Pakistan have won both their matches convincingly, the world champions will prove to be a tougher opposition for the Greenshirts despite Junaid’s optimism.

“When we reached Delhi, I asked the team to put the painful memory of the World Cup [12th place finish] behind them,” Junaid told The Express Tribune. “The match provides  an opportunity to heal the wounds from earlier this year.”

The wins against Scotland and Malaysia, according to Junaid, have given Pakistan confidence despite a 3-0 loss to Australia previously.

“Our game plan is simple: they play attacking game but we’ll try to take control and impose our authority.”

Published in The Express Tribune , October 9^th, 2010.