The Hindu : Battle royale on the cards

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Battle royale on the cards

By S. Thyagarajan

Perth May 30. It is a poignant fact that neither India nor Pakistan nowadays play hockey in its pristine purity, one that the world viewed as an expression of art on a green turf. What is dished out now is an amalgamated version, a hybrid projection of a corrupted Asian and European pattern that has taken them nowhere in the world rankings.

What is more, there is a constant cry to employ a foreign coach (read European) to comprehend the complexities that are consciously conceived to make the sport less understandable for the players and the audience. Pakistan even went to the extent of hiring a Dutch coach, Hans Jorritsma, in 1994.

Purists of a different era argue, somewhat convincingly enough, that a majority of the rule changes impelled the dilution of the vibrant, vivacious and vivid Asian portrayal of the nuances of hockey to the physical demands.

But it is difficult to go entirely along with this argument simply because the inherent talent in both countries has slipped down. Today you cannot find a player of the calibre of Sheikh Shahnaz in the Pakistan team. An artiste with the stick, he is the manager of the present team. Neither can you find gifted stars like Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin, Samiullah or Shahbaz.

It is true that Dhanraj Pillay fits into the bill of a stalwart, mirroring the adroitness of the Asian craft fleetingly. But can one swallow make a summer?

Apart from making one nostalgic and wistful, such thoughts take you nowhere. But the relevance of this comes through whenever these two take on each other. Once again, they will clash on Saturday at the Perth Hockey Stadium. The sheer romance of such a fare is discussed and dissected in detail everywhere.

Whenever these teams clash the atmosphere turns electric, and it is likely to be so for the fairly large sub-continental population here. Even the Aussies are worked up at the prospect of witnessing a battle royale.

India has had the advantage in recent combats, and all the three produced memorable moments. India's win in the Champions Trophy at Cologne fell in the realm of fantasy, and so did Pakistan's retaliation in the medal match where Rehan Butt transformed defeat into victory.

At the Busan Asiad, India regained the initiative with a superlative performance that was crowned by a spectacular last minute goal by Gagan Ajit Singh.

Saturday's encounter will be the 104th between these two with India winning only 33 and Pakistan 50. The rest were drawn. But an India-Pakistan match goes beyond facts and figures. It compasses so many virtues and statistics are but one part. So far, in this competition, India has come off better thanks to fielding a full strength squad whereas Pakistan has sorely missed proclaimed stars, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Nadeem and Waseem Ahmed. Why they are not here needs no reiteration.

That Pakistan is weakened in penalty corners by the absence of Sohail goes without saying. The frontline and defence too are vulnerable because Nadeem and Waseem will not be there. But the factor to be reckoned with is the spirit, the motivation that gets injected when the opposition is India.

Players like Taushif Jawaad and Rehan Butt can produce a surprise or two. It must also be mentioned that goal-keeper Ahmed Alam is a seasoned customer and can come up with a superlative display to frustrate the Indians.

Coach Rajinder Singh is right in dismissing the hype as needless. The Indians have to take it as any other encounter and approach it in a confident way. India will undoubtedly be fielding its best combination, for a win or even a draw would ensure a place in Sunday's final.

The Pakistanis will be aware of the havoc that Dhanraj caused in Cologne and at Busan. The thrust therefore would be to cramp him. It all depends on the rest, Mukesh, Dhillon, Gagan and Prabhjot Singh. The mid-field has been tight enough and Tirkey at the deep defence is performing exceedingly well with Kanwalpreet Singh. So far, Jugraj Singh has not had a relishing moment, and if he gets that on Saturday the outcome will be a thrilling one for India.

Two defeats in as many matches have shattered the morale of the Pakistanis. What should rankle them more was the 3-5 defeat against the `A' team which put up a sterling performance on Thursday night. The folly of playing the second goal-keeper in preference to the seasoned Ahmed Alam showed how the management underestimated the competence of the `A' team which includes quite a handful who will figure in the senior squad shortly.

With two wins, the Aussies are pretty well ensconced for the final. For them, who is the opponent, India or Pakistan, is the question.

Head to head: (India) (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against): 103, 33, 20, 50, 171, 229.

Saturday's matches: India v Pakistan (10-30 a.m. IST); Australia v Australia `A' (12-30 p.m.).

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