Pakistani hockey team lowers expectations

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Sydney: Pakistan hockey team manager, Islahuddin, is concerned about the lack of co-ordination among his players.

This weakness of the team became apparent during the seven Tests that the team played with Australia and New Zealand. Though it managed to win the four match series against New Zealand 3-0 and drew the Australian leg of the tour 1-1, the manager is not a happy man.

The victory margins against the New Zealanders were low and the credit for drawing the Australian tour should go to the defence lapses of the opponents and individual performances, Islahuddin told sportsmasala.com.

There have been reports that Pakistanis have lowered their expectations at the Games and are now aiming at the bronze. Officials say that lack of co-ordination between the forwards, mid-field and deep defence have put paid to its hopes of top honours.

They believe that individuals would not be able to rattle the defence of its pool rivals Germany, Holland and Great Britain. The major cause of concern for Islahuddin as he describes is that both penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas and the forward line don't seem to click at the same time.

Pakistan is hoping that it comes out winner in its first two matches against Canada and Great Britain and then take on the big guns with a higher morale.

UNI