KARACHI, 8 March 2005 — Former champions Pakistan began their preparations for this summer’s Junior Hockey World Cup with a shaky 4-2 win over minnows Japan in a four-nation youth tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

The hosts, with eight players in their team who have represented the country at the senior level, appeared rusty as they failed to impress much on the opening day of the invitational tournament that also features world junior champions India and South Africa.

Spearheaded by Olympian Shakeel Abbasi, Pakistan barely managed to lead 1-0 in the first session due to a series of missed opportunities.

Pakistani coach Tahir Zaman criticized his players for what he termed as an — unconvincing performance — adding that Pakistan would have to do much better when they meet favorites India in their next match today.

“Our forwards did not show much coordination and that is not a good sign,” said Tahir, a former Pakistan senior team coach who has been given the task to help Pakistan regain the world junior title in the Dutch city of Rotterdam this summer.

Tahir pointed out that Pakistan would find the going much more difficult against India, one of the most highly-rated teams on the international junior circuit.

“India are a very strong and experienced team and my boys will have to come out with their best against them.”

India were supposed to play South Africa on the opening day of the March 7-13 event but the game has been switched to March 9 after there was a delay in the Indian team’s arrival.

The Indians led by Parbodh Tirkey were scheduled to land in Lahore later in the night.

The Pakistan-Japan game was the only match played on the opening day of the tournament.

The Pakistanis went ahead through skipper Shakeel Abbasi in the 11th minute but were unable to add any more to their tally before half-time.

Japan produced a surprise equalizer just three minutes into the second session through Yoshiro.

Pakistan’s promising short corner specialist Imran Warsi made it 2-1 with a lightning drag flick before Athens Olympian Tariq Aziz scored a splendid goal off an assist from winger Akhtar Ali to take Pakistan two goals ahead. Kei Kawakami reduced the lead to 3-2 but Akhtar Ali sealed the fate of the match in Pakistan’s favor with a field goal.