The Pakistanis were unable to qualify for the last three
editions of the elite hockey tournament and have been able to make the cut for
the 2011 event as wildcard entrants.
At number eighth in the world rankings, Pakistan appear to
have less than slim chances of winning a medal at the Champions Trophy which will
be played from Dec. 3-11.
World No.1 Australia are the favorites for the crown with
top teams like Germany and Netherlands also in contention.
Pakistan have been placed in Pool along with Australia,
Great Britain and Spain. Germany are bracketed with Netherlands, Korea and
hosts New Zealand in Pool B.
On paper, Pakistan seem to have little chance of finishing
among the top-two and progressing to the semifinals.
But national hockey officials are confident that their
players have the guts to finish among the top-four in Auckland.
“It’s a huge challenge for us,” Asif Bajwa, the Pakistan
Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary, told Arab News on Friday. “I mean the Champions
Trophy features only the world’s best teams and to do well in it will take an
enormous effort from our boys.” But Bajwa was quick to add that Pakistan have
made solid preparations for the eight-nation tournament and will go all out for
at least a top-four finish in it.
“We are certainly hopeful that our team will finish among
the top-four in Auckland,” said Bajwa. “Its really important for us to do that because
such a performance will establish Pakistan as one of the contenders at next
year’s Olympic Games,” he stressed.
Pakistan, three-time Olympic champions, are hoping to end
their medal draught at the London Games next August after failing to finish on
the podium at last four editions of the quadrennial spectacle.
They view the Champions Trophy as a dress rehearsal for the
London Games and are hoping that the Greenshirts will rise to the occasion and
give their best in it.
“Our boys can do it,” Shahid Ali Khan, Pakistan’s coach,
told Arab News. “We have Britain and Spain in our pool and we if we play to our
potential both those teams are beatable,” said Shahid, a former Olympian who
was Pakistan’s hero in their title-winning triumph at the 1982 World Cup in
Bombay.
“The fact that we have even beaten Australia in their own
backyard is another reason why our boys are going to New Zealand brimming with confidence,”
said Shahid, referring to Pakistan’s stunning 4-3 win over Australia in the
final of a three-nation event in Perth early this month.
Under the supervision of their Dutch coach Michel van den
Heuvel, Pakistan trained for several days in Islamabad for the Auckland assignment.
Their brief training camp concluded on Friday and now the squad will assemble
in Karachi on Saturday to leave for Auckland via Hong Kong.
Pakistan will open their Champions Trophy campaign with a
game against Britain on Dec. 3. But before that, they will meet Germany in a warm-up
match on Nov. 30.
Bajwa said that team officials are making efforts to line up
another practice game against Netherlands or Korea before the start of the tournament.
Pakistan last featured in the Champions Trophy in 2007 when
the event was relocated from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur because of security concerns.
Their last Champions Trophy medal – a bronze – was won at the 2004 edition held
in Lahore.
