Pakistan disappoint in opener against Belgium

Three-time champions go down 2-1 in Champions Trophy group match

KARACHI: In a complete contrast to head coach Shahnaz Sheikh’s optimism, three-time champions Pakistan lost their opening match of the 2014 Champions Trophy 2-1 to Belgium in Bhubaneswar, India on Saturday.

The team went down to their European counterparts as Tanguy Cosyns scored the opening goal of the match in the 10th minute, while Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran equalised the score in the 36th minute of the match. However, Belgium proved their dominance in the next quarter with a winner from Thomas Briels in the 43rd minute.

The Greenshirts are playing as the lowest-ranked team in the event that is also featuring Australia, and England in their Pool A.

Meanwhile, Pool B have hosts India, Argentina, Germany and the Netherlands.

Loss not exactly unexpected: former captain

Former national captain Zeeshan Ashraf said Pakistan’s defeat against Belgium was not entirely unexpected.

“It’s a European side and we haven’t played any match with any European nation in the recent past,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “They did their best, but this is not an unexpected result. Belgium are a strong side and they also have new players now.”

Ashraf said that while the team deserves appreciation for putting up a fight, the defender’s mistakes cost them the match.

“This is a new team; we only have Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool and Muhammad Tauseef from the older lot. The rest are new. Imran performed well in the match, but they need to work hard on defending.

“The team gave its best, the attacked and counter-attacked, it was our defending that brought us down. But this is just the first match.”

He said that he will be expecting the team to counter England in more skilfully in today’s match.

“Their next fixture is with England, which is also tricky,” said Ashraf. “England usually score on short-corners and they play longer shots. Pakistan will definitely need man-to-man marking in this match.”

The 2010 Asian Games-medallist added that he wants to see the team to be in the semi-finals.

In other matches of the day, Australia defeated England 3-1 and the Netherlands crushed Argentina 3-0 in Pool B.

 

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