Pakistan had a disappointing start to their Asia Cup campaign when they lost 2-1 to South Korea in their practice match in Jakarta.
According to the result released by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) here on Friday, Pakistan’s only goal was scored by Ali Shan while South Korea struck one goal on short-corner and the other in a field attempt.
Pakistan face arch-rivals India in the opening match of the Asia Cup on Monday before the green-shirts meet Indonesia on Tuesday.
The Asia Cup will also serve as the qualifier for next year’s World Cup where four teams from Asia will compete.
Umar Bhutta will lead a 20-member Pakistan squad at this month’s Asia Cup, the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s national selection committee announced after resolving its differences with the country’s hockey governing body.
The Asia Cup will be held in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1 and the team was selected from among 24 probables, who attended the training camp in Lahore, which will continue till the squad’s departure on Thursday.
While Umar has been retained as captain, the main talking point was that the selection committee led by Manzoor Junior, which did not announce the team for its tour of Europe last month, announced the team after a detailed briefing with head coach Siegfried Aikman and the team management.—AFP
