- August 8, 2023
Asian Champions Trophy 2023: India aim to avoid complacency against Pakistan | Hockey News – Times of India
The performance of both teams in the tournament so far couldn’t be more contrasting. The hosts have maintained an unbeaten record in their four matches, while Pakistan has secured just a single win alongside a couple of draws and a loss. Their chances of reaching the semifinals hinge on the outcome of this crucial showdown.
For Pakistan, a victory would secure their place in the last four, but a defeat would put their fate in the hands of the result between China and Japan. If Pakistan faces defeat on Wednesday, they will hope for an upset by China against Japan. If Japan does win, the margin of victory would matter.
Additionally, Pakistan will also be rooting for Malaysia to defeat South Korea by a significant margin, which would work to their advantage.
India currently leads the table with three wins and a draw, totaling 10 points. Malaysia follows with 9 points, South Korea with 5, Pakistan with 5, Japan with 2, and China with 1.
Despite both India and Pakistan sharing the distinction of being three-time champions, the current rankings and global reputation undoubtedly favor India, ranked fourth worldwide compared to Pakistan’s 16th position.
Nevertheless, rankings often hold little significance in the context of an intense India-Pakistan clash, where the outcome could be determined by which team handles the pressure more effectively.
While Harmanpreet Singh and his squad have been displaying attacking hockey and have notably improved their short corner conversion rate, India needs to bolster their defensive capabilities as they approach the pivotal stages of the tournament.
“We still need to work defensively and not give away silly PCs. We need to tackle better inside and do most of the tackling outside the box,” Singh had said.
A day’s rest after back-to-back matches will definitely help both India and Pakistan.
Elaborating on the challenges of playing matches on consecutive days, India head coach Craig Fulton said: “It’s a hindrance for every team in the event, because if you check the scores of the team playing the next day, they have mostly been draws.
“Today (Monday) was a bit different, but yes, consecutive games are a bit harder to play … It’s a grind, and it’s tough. The momentum swings drastically in back-to-back games, and you gotta be able to manage all of it.”
Pakistan will be going into the match against India on the back of a narrow 2-1 win over China which helped them to stay in contention for a semifinal place.
However, the team was found wanting in their finishing abilities, something which it would have to improve when it takes on the hosts.
The intensity is always high when it comes to any Indo-Pak match, and the visitors will have to keep their nerves in control in front of a vociferous Indian crowd.
“We will need to teach our young lads (about handling the crowd pressure) who are playing here for the first time,” said Pakistan’s stand-in head coach Muhammad Saqlain.
“If you can close your ears and focus on the game, we surely can play good hockey. Also, if both the teams play good hockey, it would be a great achievement for Asian hockey.”
For India, it would be a battle for the top spot against Malaysia.
However, there is a strong chance that India might face off against Pakistan in the semifinal, as the table toppers take on the fourth-placed side in the last four.
The team which finishes second will play third spot side on Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)
