In order to tackle a ruthless onslaught from their European counterparts, former hockey Olympians and fans have urged India and Pakistan to join hands to stop their slide from the top
ISLAMABAD: In order to tackle a ruthless onslaught from their European counterparts, former hockey Olympians and fans have urged India and Pakistan to join hands to stop their slide from the top.
Former Pakistan captain and coach Islahuddin Siddiqui said that the two countries should play more matches against each other so as to raise their standards. "Pakistan and India need to play at all levels to improve within the Asian style and end the title drought."
Germany had won their second consecutive world cup title defeating Australia by 4-3 in Monchengladbach. The event saw none of the Asian teams in the top three, with Spain finishing third. The best of the Asian teams was South Korea finishing in fourth position.
Three-time Olympic and four-time world champions Pakistan were sixth and eight-time Olympic and one-time world champions India finished way back in 11th. No Asian team has ever won a hockey major after Pakistan's 1994 world title in Sydney, Australia.
Siddiqui is of the view that Pakistan and India share the same problems. "They do not know what style to play and if they don't revert to an attacking Asian style, they will not go anywhere. The 5-3-2-1 formation of Asian style is the best, but the physical defense
and deep defense should be improved." He also pointed out that if all these suggestions are accepted, then there is no reason why the Asian teams can't counter the Europeans.
Mansoor Ahmed, another Olympian termed cricket's popularity and the lack of hockey's professional status as the factors for the downfall of hockey in the sub-continent. "Hockey had countered cricket till 1998, but after that cricket's popularity started to affect hockey. Pakistan and India need to play attacking hockey and there is no harm in having an European advisor who can help us to counter the Europeans."
Hockey fans are also of the same view. Fans also said that, despite Pakistan finishing sixth in the World Cup they had never expected their team to bring home the title. "Hockey is losing popularity because everyone wants to watch cricket which has more glamour. We never expected our team to finish among the top teams, our Hockey glory was lost a decade ago," said Murtaza Hussain, a hockey fan.
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