Lack of timely match practice could cost India dear once the World Cup gets underway in three weeks time

DHANANJAY ROY

THE RACE has begun and most teams who will be contending the World Cup starting February 28 are busy ironing out flaws which would help them stand a better shot at the coveted trophy.

Nevertheless there’s always an exception to the rule and in this case it’s hosts India who are still no where close to getting any international side to help them with some much needed match practice.

Hockey India had claimed that they were trying to get China to play a Test series after the proposed four-nation tournament was cancelled last month. But that failed to materialise and now the administrators are hoping that the Netherlands and Argentina will oblige them with a practice game each prior to the commencement of the event.

Till then Jose Brasa’s boys, who until a couple of weeks ago, were at loggerheads with HI over unpaid dues, will have to make do with dividing themselves into groups and playing against each other. Then they are scheduled to compete against the second string Indian team which is currently participating in the South Asian Games in Dhaka.

QUESTIONS REMAIN

GIVEN THE circumstances, its anybody’s guess as to how well India would be prepared when the boys line up to lock horns against Pakistan on February 28. India’s lack of match practice becomes even more glaring when one considers what other top teams are doing at the moment.

Champions Trophy winners Australia just concluded a three Test series against Korea winning 2-1. The victory apart their coach Ric Charlesworth observed that there were still quite a few grey areas that needed to be worked upon.

The Netherlands and Pakistan played out a couple of draws at a neutral venue in Doha, leaving Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan in a buoyant mood. He was confident his team could leave their mark once the mega event gets underway.

Chief coach Van den Heuvel’s team also play England in a couple of backto-back games and follow it up with two games against Spain on the 13th and 15th of February. Spain meanwhile, have already played against Germany and England.

India’s planning or rather the lack of it has irked coach Brasa no end. The latest incident that got to his nerves is the fact that the probables have to travel about five kilometres between the gymnasium and National Stadium in order to complete the training schedule of the day. As things stand it would be interesting to see if he can manage to retain his sense of humour if India fail to live up to the expectations of the fans.