Pakistani hockey coach hoping for better show in remaining World Cup matches

Despite losing two games, including the one against arch rivals India, out of the first three matches, the Pakistani hockey team is hopeful of winning the rest of its encounters in the ongoing Hockey World Cup in New Delhi.

Pakistan have just three points from the three games and it is unlikely that the 1994 champions would reach the semis with two more matches to be played, and the one against ‘hot favourites’ Australia.

Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan admitted that it would require a miracle to see his team reach the semi-finals, but expressed hope for a better show in the last two matches.

“It looks really difficult.But anything can happen. We want to stay in the hunt for the semifinals by winning our last two matches. If we fail (in reaching the last-four) then we would go all out to at least finish fifth in the World Cup,” The News quoted Khan, as saying.

Pakistan will take on minnows South Africa on Saturday (today) before the big one against Australia on March 8 (Monday).

“At the moment we are focussing on the match against South Africa. We have to win it and then we will give our best to beat Australia,” Khan added.

Commenting on the 2-5 defeat against England on Thursday, he said the team lost the plot after coming back from two goals down to level the score 2-2.

“At that time we were in a very good position but our defence faltered and our goalie made too many mistakes,” Khan said.