Pakistan eye Aussie scalp in Perth

Our correspondent
KARACHI: Hockey history will be created in Perth on Thursday (today) when Pakistan will meet hosts Australia in the opening match of an innovative international nine-a-side tournament.

The Pakistanis are hoping to conquer the mighty Aussies in their opening match of the event which will be played on fields with bigger goals and shorter halves. The International Super Series that also features India and New Zealand is a part of an ambitious bid by the international hockey bosses to revamp the sport.

Several changes have been made in hockey rules for this newly-introduced format with teams reduced from 11 players to nine. The goals have been widened by one-metre, or 50 percent. The sessions have been shortened from 35 minutes to 15 minutes to make matches more action-packed.

Penalty corners have also been simplified and penalty strokes have been replaced with a ‘face-off’ between player and goalkeeper. Khawaja Junaid, Pakistan’s manager, said that his charges were itching to take the field against the Aussies after beating Australia ‘A’ in a warm-up match the other day.

“Our boys did a good job in the practice match and we are now expecting them to do even better tomorrow when the real event begins,” said the former Olympian. Junaid said that his players are well aware of the fact that their assignment in Perth is part of Pakistan’s preparations for next year’s Olympic Games in London.

“They know that their performance here will be under the microscope,” he said. “This new format is really useful for us because it will help us gauge our players’ fitness and skill levels in a better manner because of its fast and furious pace.”

Junaid said that his players have encountered different weather conditions in Australia but was quick to add that they have managed to acclimatise and are now ready to take a shot at the title.

Meanwhile, India, who will meet New Zealand on Thursday, suffered a major blow when their key player Sandeep Singh was ruled out of the tournament because of a nasal fracture. Sandeep, a prolific penalty corner expert, got injured during a practice match against Australia ‘A’.

Michael Nobbs, India’s Australian coach, said that doctors have advised him rest. “The doctor has advised him rest. Though the injury is not serious, we are not taking any risk,” Nobbs was quoted as saying in an interview on Wednesday.

“He is after all a key player for our team preparation. He will surely play the Test matches after the Hockey 9s Super Series,” said Nobbs. Sandeep was quite disappointed on missing out on the new format. “I regret I will not be able to play in the new tournament. I first thought the injury is minor but it is not. The nasal fracture is not serious but I can’t take risk,” he said.