Hobart International Challenge: Greenshirts lose 5-0 to Australia

Pakistan won only two matches out of their six on the tour.

KARACHI: Pakistan men’s hockey team lost their last match of the Four-Nation Hobart International Challenge against Australia 5-0 at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in Hobart, Australia on Sunday.

The Greenshirts, who have won only two matches out of their six on the tour, failed to stop the Australian attack as the opposition spent most of their time in front of Pakistan’s goal.

Regardless of the poor performance on the tour by Pakistan, head coach Shahnaz Sheikh found some positives.

“The team now knows where they need to improve and have learnt a lot by playing with the top countries of the world,” said Sheikh.

The team will now return to Pakistan on May 12 before departing for Korea four days later for a Test match series against them. The series would also serve as a preparatory ground for the Olympic qualification rounds, set to start from June 22 in Belgium.

Sheikh also said that the return of two senior players, Rashid Mehmood and Muhammad Rizwan Senior, from their league commitments will improve the team’s morale and would aid in qualification for the Olympics.

“After our tour to Korea, Mehmood and Rizwan Senior may return from their leagues which will definitely improve the team going into the Olympic qualification rounds.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th,  2015.

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