Pakistan are eyeing a top-two finish in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which will be held in Ipoh from April 5-12.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be the first tournament for the Pakistani hockey team under new coach Shahid Ali Khan.
And the opening match against Malaysia will be the first time the Pakistanis will be in action since the start of the year.
Shahid said in a telephone interview from Lahore yesterday that they would be “going in blindly” for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which is part of their preparations for the Asia Cup in May.
“This tournament is just a testing ground for me. We are confident of a top-two finish. I would rate India and New Zealand as the favourites for the title,” he said.
“They are well-prepared for the challenge but the tournament offers the Asian teams a good chance to test their squads ahead of the Asia Cup.”
The Pakistan team for the Ipoh meet will have two surprises — they will have only one goalkeeper in Nasir Ahmed and two debutants — Zeeshan Ali and Sibtain Raza.
Shahid said the decision to bring just one goalkeeper was to give more outfield players the chance to prove their worth for the Asia Cup squad.
“The two players making the debut have done well in training and I felt that they should be given a chance to cement their places. Nobody is assured of a place in the Asia Cup squad yet,” he said.
Pakistan are regulars in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, having played 15 out of the 18 times the tournament has been held. They also won the title in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
Shahid is a familiar figure in Malaysia, having worked with the National Juniors and the senior teams since 2005 and returning to Pakistan last October after his contract was not renewed by the National Sports Council (NSC).
In February, he was named as Pakistan’s new coach.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be the first tournament for the Pakistani hockey team under new coach Shahid Ali Khan.
And the opening match against Malaysia will be the first time the Pakistanis will be in action since the start of the year.
Shahid said in a telephone interview from Lahore yesterday that they would be “going in blindly” for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which is part of their preparations for the Asia Cup in May.
“This tournament is just a testing ground for me. We are confident of a top-two finish. I would rate India and New Zealand as the favourites for the title,” he said.
“They are well-prepared for the challenge but the tournament offers the Asian teams a good chance to test their squads ahead of the Asia Cup.”
The Pakistan team for the Ipoh meet will have two surprises — they will have only one goalkeeper in Nasir Ahmed and two debutants — Zeeshan Ali and Sibtain Raza.
Shahid said the decision to bring just one goalkeeper was to give more outfield players the chance to prove their worth for the Asia Cup squad.
“The two players making the debut have done well in training and I felt that they should be given a chance to cement their places. Nobody is assured of a place in the Asia Cup squad yet,” he said.
Pakistan are regulars in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, having played 15 out of the 18 times the tournament has been held. They also won the title in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
Shahid is a familiar figure in Malaysia, having worked with the National Juniors and the senior teams since 2005 and returning to Pakistan last October after his contract was not renewed by the National Sports Council (NSC).
In February, he was named as Pakistan’s new coach.
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