LAHORE - Pakistan hockey team faced the worst ever defeat when the green shirts were ripped apart by the hosts Australia in their first match of the International Festival of Hockey at Melbourne's State Netball Hockey Centre on Wednesday.
According to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) spokesman, the record four-time World Champions Pakistan’s 1-9 defeat is their worst ever in international hockey. Earlier, Holland had record of thrashing Pakistan 9-2 at the 2006 Champions Trophy in Terrassa, Spain.
Reigning world champions Australia dominated the proceedings almost throughout; at times they toyed with the opponents. Blake Govers' hat-trick included two off penalty corners, and a memorable field goal. Aaron Kleinschmidt had a brace each.
The Kookaburras first goal came in the eighth minute off the first penalty corner. An excellent top of the circle drill baffled the defence and Hayward put his team ahead. Within four minutes, Whetton doubled the advantage. After robbing a defender, he entered the circle from the left, immediately swerved and with the tomahawk rattled the board.
The first half's last goal came off a wonderful Whetton assist. His inch perfect ball from circle's top beat a crowded defence and Kleinschmidt, easily scored from the middle of the scoring area. In the first 30 minutes, Pakistan had just one open play attempt when Arslan Qadir's full stretch effort eluded the target. They also wasted one penalty corner. The home side led 3-0 at half time.
Two minutes into the second half, Abubakr brought a glimmer of hope. Off Pakistan's second penalty corner, his forceful flick went high into the net. However, within a minute, Aussies restored three-goal lead. Kleinschmidt had his second of the evening with a superb first time reverse hander from the left of circle's edge which went into the roof of the far net. Govers made it 5-1 with a penalty corner conversion. His flat forceful push beat the Pak defence all ends up.
Although Australia again had most of the exchanges in the third quarter yet it was green shirts' best 15 minutes of the game. They had open play opportunities and a couple of penalty corners, scored off one of them. Pakistan's sloppy defending seemed to be theme of the day but in the last quarter, it completely melted away and conceded four more. Arunasalam dived to avail a parallel pass sent from left. Then Govers scored the most memorable goal of the day.
Standing in the left side of the circle, he body feinted the defence and put it in, finding the narrowest of the narrow gaps between the near post and the net minder-all in one movement. Soon a Govers' reverse shot from left, across the face of the goal, was well flicked into the goal by Wickham. Irresistible Govers completed the tally and also his hat trick in the last minute. Off another PC, his hard low push went past goal keeper Amjad's left pad. Today (Thursday), Pakistan will play Japan, which held a strong New Zealand side 1-1.
With such a humiliating defeat at the hands of hosts Australia, the hockey lovers, former Olympians and experts started criticising the current Pakistan Hockey Federation setup saying they are just busy in collecting grants from different sectors but practically, they failed to deliver and revive the declining standard of the national game.
Using the social media, a journalist advised the PHF saying, “The PHF needs to focus on preparing and grooming the best young lot instead of begging the money from various sectors. When they will start producing wonders at international level, the sponsors will atomically start coming and supporting the national game.”
After such a humiliating defeat, a former hockey player said: “Gone were the days, when Pakistan hockey team used to be the best in the business and used to win Olympic and international medals. Pakistan hockey needs sincere leadership and technocrats who can help revive the national game and also help in regaining lost hockey glory.
“The current officials have been doing nothing practically for the revival of the game but just busy in begging money which wouldn’t help in saving the sinking ship of Pakistan hockey. The need of the hour is to hunt fresh talent and groom them well for the national and international events. They must be trained at international-standard astro-turfs right from their careers, so that they may get used to play at that surface and then produce the best results for the country at different levels. Sincerity with national game is the only solution to help it regain past glory,” he added.