Pakistan Defeated Bangladesh 7-0 in Opening Match of Hockey Asia Cup Report by.Asghar Ali Mubarak

Pakistan Defeated Bangladesh 7-0 in Opening Match of Hockey Asia Cup
Report by.Asghar Ali Mubarak
DHAKA -Pakistan started its campaign at the 10th Hockey Asia Cup with an impressive 7-0 win
over the hosts Bangladesh at Dhaka’s Maulana Bhashani Stadium.

The green shirts completely dominated the proceedings throughout and created numerous open play chances along with nine penalty corners.

But the first match jitters were very much evident as they scored just one goal in the first half, courtesy Abubakr Mahmood’s PC conversion in the second quarter, whose powerful flick went into the net off goal keeper Asim’s palm. There was a lot of missing from Pakistanis.
Bangladesh had their best chance of the match late in the first half. A faulty Pakistani clearance led to an easy top of the circle opportunity but the Bangladeshi captain Rashel shot just wide with the goal at his mercy.

Two back to back goals early in the second half calmed Pakistani bench’s nerves.
Arslan Qadir was felled down in the circle and off the resulting penalty stroke, Ammad Shakeel Butt sent the goal keeper the wrong way with a high push to the top left corner.
Soon, an Ali Shan reverse hander from the left of the circle was sent into the cage by an excellent touch by Arslan Qadir with an extended stick held high.
Off the fifth PC, a little variation at the top of the circle worked. Skipper Irfan drew the rushers before slipping the ball to Abubakr, who flicked it into the net to make it 4-0.

The last quarter also saw three goals.
Ammad Butt after receiving the ball in the circle from a right side attack beautifully side stepped the net minder before putting it in.
Then Abubakr completed his hat trick availing the seventh PC. Though his push was straight on to the goal keeper but the ball deflected into the goal.
The last goal came in the final minute. Arslan Qadir created space at the top of the circle in a crowded defence before slotting home with a spectacular reverse hit for his second of the evening.

Scorers: Abubakr Mahmood:3 (18′,41′, 50′) Ammad Shakeel Butt:2 (33′, 47′) Arslan Qadir: 2 (33′, 60′)

Hero Man of Match: M.Rizwan Senior (12,500 Takas)

Pakistan next plays Japan on Friday

Earlier India defeated Japan 5-1 in a clinical display.
India’s scorers: Harmanpreet Singh 2, Sunil, Lalit Upadhay & Ramandeep Singh
The eight-team tournament will serve as a platform for 2018 World Cup as the winner will directly qualify for the marquee event, which will be held from November 24 in India. This was the fifth match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Asia Cup. Pakistan won all previous encounters without conceding a goal. However, when Dhaka last staged the Asia Cup in 1985, Bangladesh gave Pakistan a good run for their money, losing only by 0-1 at that time, were the undisputed kings of hockey holding all the titles: Olympic, World Cup, Asian Games and Asia Cup. Before stats the event Pakistan played a practice match against China on Monday and defeated them by 3-2. This was the only practice match for the Green-shirts before the Asia Cup.The Hero Asia Cup 2017 eight teams competing for the coveted title at the Maulana Bhishani National Stadium here in Dhaka, Bangladesh. But for teams like South Korea, Japan and China, it’s not only the title they are after, but a place in the 2018 World Cup in India. So far three Asian countries, hosts India, Malaysia and Pakistan have earned berths to the tournament.
Although many are in favor of defending champions South Korea to qualify for a remaining World Cup slot having won the previous two Asia cup in 2009 and 2013, the other three who have made it will be fighting for the world ranking points.
While the chase is on for the World Cup berth and ranking points, one significant factor that makes this edition more interesting is the change of format.
The 8 teams are placed in two pools and after playing three matches, the top two teams of each pool will move into another pool named the Super Fours and the bottom two teams of each pool will move to another pool to determine the 5-8th placing.
In the Super 4s pool the teams will play a round robin and the top two teams then proceed to the final.
It will no doubt tax the physical endurance as in normal circumstances teams need to play 6 matches and land the title; this time around it’s one game extra.
Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen said that this will pose a physical challenge to teams. “In the initial pool stage, teams have to fight to finish in the top two and then at the Super 4 stage every match counts,” said Stephen.
Coaches need to rotate their players as much as they can hence bench strength is important as the last four matches are virtually back to back with only one-day rest in between.
The Malaysians have never made the final of the Asia Cup but as the second ranked team in the tournament, they are optimistic they will be in the final on October 22.
India is on a team rebuilding exercise with new coach Sjoerd Marijne. But the expectations are high to lift the Hero Asia Cup.
“His strategies revolve around the trust factor. The more we trust each other the better we will play as a close-knit unit. He encourages sharing. He says none of the players should hesitate in coming forward with their views, even if they disagree with his suggestions. He welcomes dialogue and engagement,” said India skipper Manpreet Singh.
With four titles, South Korea is the most successful team besides being the defending champions from the last edition held in 2013.
However, they could well succumb under pressure in Dhaka as they have to win the title or risk missing out of the 2018 World Cup. The same applies to Japan, a team that created waves at the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, by defeating Australia, but in the World League they were a pale shadow.
Early indications are that South Korea, Malaysia, India and Pakistan will make the Super 4 stage. However, do not discount the possibility of China and Japan upstaging the more fancied teams.
Introduced in 1982, the inaugural Men’s Asia Cup was won by Pakistan, who also won the next two editions in 1985 and 1989. Since then, India (2003, 2007) and Korea (1993, 1999, 2009 and 2013) have also been champions in the nine editions played so far.
Pool A: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan
Pool B: Malaysia, S Korea, China, Oman
ROLL OF HONOUR
Edition Host 1st 2nd 3rd
1st (1982) Karachi (Pakistan) Pakistan India China
2nd (1985) Dhaka (Bangladesh) Pakistan India South Korea
3rd (1989) New Delhi (India) Pakistan India South Korea
4th (1993) Hiroshima (Japan) South Korea India Pakistan
5th (1999) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia South Korea Pakistan India
6th (2003) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia India Pakistan South Korea
7th (2007) Chennai (India) India South Korea Malaysia
8th (2009) Kuantan (Malaysia) South Korea Pakistan China
9th (2013) Ipoh (Malaysia) South Korea India Pakistan

Pakistan Team:Mazhar Abbas and Amjad Ali (goal keepers), Muhammad Irfan (captain), Atif Mushtaq, Mubashar Ali, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Tasawwar Abbas, Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan Jr, Arslan Qadir, Azfar Yaqoob, Umar Bhutta, Rizwan Sr (Vice Captain), Ali Shan, Muhammad Atiq, Waqas Akbar and Ajaz Ahmad. The standbys comprise Junaid Kamal, Ali Hassan Faraz, Irfan Jr, Shan Irshad, Saleem Nazim, Qamar Bukhari, Khizar Akhtar, Shajeeh Ahmed and Hassan Anwar.
Here are teams from both the pools:

Pool A: India, Japan, Bangladesh, Pakistan

Pool B: Malaysia, South Korea, China, Oman

SCHEDULE:

Pool A

11 October-India vs Japan
11 October-Pakistan vs Bangladesh
13 October-Japan vs Pakistan

13 October-India vs Bangladesh
15 October-Japan vs Bangladesh
15 October-Pakistan vs India
Pool B

12 October-Malaysia vs China
12 October-South Korea vs Oman
14 October-China vs Oman
14 October-South Korea vs Malaysia
16-Malaysia vs Oman
16-China vs South Korea
Knockouts

5-8th place

18 October-19 October

1-4th place

22 October