Kashif Abdul Razzaq
In their opening match of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy held in Chennai on Thursday, Pakistan suffered a defeat against Malaysia. While Pakistan displayed a solid temperament in the first two quarters, Malaysia managed to secure a 2-0 lead by halftime, putting pressure on the relatively inexperienced Pakistan side.
Faisal Saari and Farhan Sarri’s partnership proved crucial for Malaysia’s success, leading to a 2-0 advantage. Faisal scored the first goal in the second quarter, with a brilliant assist from his partner, Farhan. Soon after, the duo struck again, extending Malaysia’s lead.
Faisal continued to be instrumental in Malaysia’s attack, setting up another goal for Silverius Shello to successfully net the ball. With a 3-0 lead, Malaysia dominated the game, starting their Asian event’s campaign on a victorious note.
Pakistan’s squad includes Muhammad Umar Bhatta as the captain, along with other talented players like Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, and more, with several standbys on the roster as well.
Here are Pakistan’s upcoming matches in the tournament:
August 4 – against Korea
August 6 – against Japan
August 7 – against China
August 9 – against India