06-May-2012
By Ijaz Chaudhry
The hockey world will always be grateful to Pakistan as a number of international hockey events are the brainchild of Pakistan’s authorities — the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. No other country can boast of such a contribution.
Interestingly, Pakistan also won the inaugural editions of all these prestigious tournaments. At the junior level, Pakistan gave the idea of the Junior Asia Cup, and the first edition was held in Karachi, from Dec 25, 1987 to Jan 3, 1988. Keeping up the tradition, the green shirts won the inaugural edition — and in an emphatic manner. Played on a single league format, Pakistan easily won all its six matches and in the tie against Macau, they pumped in 55 goals. The trophy was lifted by the legendary Shahbaz Ahmad — widely acknowledged as the greatest player of his generation.
The second edition was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lampur in 1992. Pakistan maintained their perfect record winning all the matches and beating the hosts 3-0 in the final, watched by a huge crowd, including Sultan Azlan Shah. The locals were anticipating a very close game as in the pool game the Malaysians had given Pakistan a run for their money and the defending champions had barely scraped through thanks to a solitary goal. But in the final, led by Mohammad Khalid, Pakistanis outplayed the hosts.
Many members of that side graduated into the national senior team and figured in Pakistan hockey’s last two glorious victories, both achieved in 1994.
The team that regained the Champions trophy after 14 years had seven players from the 1992 junior Asia Cup squad while the side winning the World Cup for the first time since 1982 had eight of them.
Pakistan’s skipper in 1996 was also a Mohammad Khalid. The venue shifted slightly for the third junior Asia Cup. This time it was Malaysia’s neighbour Singapore. It didn’t change Pakistan’s fortunes, though.
As in the senior Asia Cup, the juniors also completed the hat trick — winning all the first three editions. But they were given a scare by India in the final. The match had ended even and Pakistan only got through in the penalty stroke shoot out.
Kuala Lampur again hosted the event in 2000 which saw Pakistan going from king to paupers. What to talk of retaining the title, the holders of the first three Junior Asia Cups even failed to reach the semi finals. The Kashif Jawad-led team finished fifth. It was an ill-prepared team sent by Pakistan with very little international exposure. Incidentally, at the senior Asia Cup as well, Pakistan after winning the first three editions, had failed to reach the final at the fourth Asia Cup. It were South Korea who lifted the 4th Junior Asia Cup. There was further humiliation for Pakistan as the fifth position meant the green shirts also failed to qualify for the 2001 junior World Cup — for the first time.
In 2004, junior Asia Cup returned to the place of its birth. Karachi was the venue for the fifth edition so Pakistan were expected to do well. Led by the mercurial striker Shakeel Abbasi, they certainly did better than on the previous occasion and reached the final. But losing to India at the last hurdle in front of a large home crowd and that too by a margin of 2-5 was disappointing.
Next, India were the hosts for the first time. Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pardesh, staged the sixth junior Asia Cup in 2008. This time Pakistan, led by the present day senior forward Shafqat Rasool, met the hosts in the semi final. No need telling the stadium was bursting with spectators. Perhaps the tense atmosphere got the better of the junior players. Five minutes before the half time, a scuffle between M Irfan and Mandeep Antill led to a free-for-all and the match remained suspended for 10 minutes. India eventually won the duel 3-1. Pakistan ended third.
As had been the practice, the Asia Cup was also serving as a qualifier for the junior World Cup. Pakistan were keeping their fingers crossed as the FIH had not yet decided whether two or three teams from Asia, apart from the co-hosts Malaysia and Singapore, would feature in the 2009 junior World Cup. Luckily for Pakistan, three slots were finally announced.
This edition at Malacca would make Malaysia the first country to host the junior Asia Cup thrice. For the next junior World Cup, in 2013, Asia was initially given three slots including the hosts India. On the eve of the tournament, it was announced that the continent quota has been increased to four. It was a mind boggling bureaucratic lapse that the FIH decision taken on April 8 could not be conveyed to either the AHF or the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) until very late.
Having been assured of automatic qualification for the next junior World Cup, should India be taking the junior Asia Cup lightly? In fact, they have a great incentive to go all out for victory. Will the two-time defending champions complete a hat-trick of the titles, a feat achieved only by Pakistan so far?
For the green shirts, the semi final should be the minimum target as that would assure them the ticket for the junior World Cup. Pakistan is fielding a pretty strong and experienced side. Led by the World Cupper Umar Bhutta, the junior team has at least six players who have appeared for the national senior side. The juniors have had good international exposure with several tours abroad over the last few years.
All this makes Pakistan as much in contention for the title as any other side in the fray.
ijaz62@hotmail.com
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