The other IndiaPakistan clash

INTENSE Asian hockey powers too will showcase the two nations’ sports rivalry

Will Sunday’s India-Pakistan contest in the FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final match the hype, hoopla and anticipation associated with the ICC Champions Trophy final between the two countries at The Oval, a few miles away, in London? Probably for the first time in their history, the two neighbours are facing each other in two popular sports in the same city on the same day and a comparison seems apt.

Rarely have there been dull moments in the field when the two neighbours have clashed and hockey fans eagerly await such encounters as they can watch some good individual skills in a hard-fought encounter with both teams refusing to give an inch. Usually played in front of big crowds comprising members of the diaspora from both countries, these encounters are livewire affairs with the excitement at times brimming over and things turning ugly both on the field and outside.

However, Sunday’s clash at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park may not live up to the memorable contests of yore because of the falling standard of hockey in Pakistan.

While the ICC Champions Trophy final is projected to be a needle contest after Pakistan bounced back to the reach the summit clash despite an embarrassing 124-run defeat against India in their opening encounter, the Green Brigade in hockey is currently shell-shocked following a 0-6 walloping at the hands of Canada on Friday. Pakistan had lost their opening match in the Hockey World League Semi-Final 0-4 to Netherlands while India had beaten Scotland 4-1 that day.

Pakistan’s hockey fortunes have been in the doldrums for the last few years due to lack of government support and enough competitive matches as foreign teams have been reluctant to visit the country due to security fears. While Pakistan has slipped in FIH rankings and are currently languishing at 13th, India have risen through the ranks in the same period and are now perched at 6th. They have had some good results too, winning gold in the Asian Champions Trophy and bronze in the FIH Hockey World League and the Champions Trophy.

India also have a well settled and experienced squad while Pakistan are in the build-up phase for the next year’s World Cup after missing the Rio Olympics. The Green Shirts recently toured Australia and New Zealand and had a couple of good results too. But that seems to have had little impact on the team going by their dismal show in the first two matches in London.