Azlan Cup :: Pakistanis confident of winning start in opening match against hosts

Pakistan are confident of a winning start against Malaysia in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup here today despite having to rely on a mixed group of youth and experienced players.

Coach Shahid Ali Khan said the team had shown good performances and “the players are all fired up for the tournament”.

“We respect Malaysia but we also know that they are going through a rebuilding phase as well,” he said yesterday.

“We expect a tough match and it will be good for my young players to start off with a win.”

The Pakistanis, who arrived here on Thursday, had a late work-out yesterday.

Shahid said his focus was the Asia Cup next month and admitted that the team here “is not our full side”.

“We will definitely make some changes in May as the Asia Cup is too important to be taken lightly. This is the first big tournament for the players since the Beijing Olympics. It will be a good test for them,” he said.

Shahid added that he would be banking on the return of four senior players to spearhead their challenge in the Asia Cup, which will be held in Kuantan from May 9-16. The four are penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt, Wassim Ahmad and Ghazanffar Ali.

“These four will give us a real edge and I feel we will be better at the Asia Cup. We lack experience and that is why I need to make the changes. Only one team will qualify for the World Cup from Kuantan and we want to be that team,” he said emphatically.