Yesterday was a disaster for both India and Pakistan.
India seemed to have decided not to win while Pakistan had to bow to a better team.
Both the Wednesday losers will now scramble for some prestige and consolation today in Ipoh.
Its not first time, nor going to be the last, these two teams, once invinciables, will fight it out for minor placings
Both the teams nearly play a same style, despite whatever the coaches claim, attack tirelessly, and then in the end of the day often rue the missed chances.
They don’t have wherewithal to counter other teams’ counter attacks, and then of course these nations by and large has problem in collecting best talent itself.
While Pakistan has WSH impact and couple of good players are therefore left out, Indian coach too has handful of problems in getting the best talent to his side and then extracting the best from whoever is with him in Ipoh.
Whether it is conceding a penalty corner to Great Britain or losing ball in the own 25-yardline due to over-confidence and over-holding, Coach Michael Nobbs gives an impression that the players don’t simply follow the boardroom instructions.
However, as deputy coach Md. Riaz who addressed the official press meet after yesterday’s slow-motion game, felt that today is different and that the rival is Pakistan, the match can be a good one.
No longer any fun is involved when India and Pakistan play for routine match where stakes are merely to avoid minor placings at the expense of the other.
They fight at Busselton, bury it in Burnbury — two centres which hosted tense contests last year end — and then make news for ban and suspension.
Meanwhile, the nations who remain focus, whose human and monetary resources are meagre, produce better results and walk away with honours on the international forums.