Tag: Pakistan squad for Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

CHENNAI: Pakistan hockey team concluded their Asian Hockey Champions Trophy journey at fifth position after handing China a thumping 6-1 defeat on Friday.

The Green Shirts started the game on high as they quickly took a 4-0 lead in the first quarter.

Although, China, showed some grit and managed to score their solitary goal in the third quarter but the green-shirts eventually pulled them back and scored two more goals to hand them a heavy defeat by a margin of five goals.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Ammad and Mohammad Sufyan both scored two goals each, while Hanan Shahid and Abdul Rana each scored one goal.

China’s Benhai Chen scored the only goal of the match in the 35th minute through a penalty corner.

This was the first time that the Green Shirts failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy since its inception in 2011.

The national team was knocked out of the Asian Champions Trophy, after facing a daunting 0-4 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s only victory in the Asian Champions Trophy came against China, which finished at the bottom of the table with one point only.

Prior to that game, Pakistan was winless in the Asian Champions Trophy, as they drew against Japan (3-3), and defending champions South Korea (1-1), while, they were handed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their first game.

Pakistan ended up with the same points as Japan and South Korea, however, it failed to qualify due to goal difference, as the other two teams progressed to the next round.

South Korea will face Malaysia in the first semi-final today, meanwhile, India will face Japan in the second semi-final on the same day.

Pakistan previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while they shared the trophy with India in 2018 as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain. Meanwhile, India have won the title in 2011 and 2016.

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CHENNAI: Afraz’s match-winner lifted Pakistan to keep their semi-final hopes alive with a convincing 2-1 victory over China in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy.

Pakistan started the game on a high as they maintained pressure on the Chinese defence right from the start and soon got the reward in the 19th minute, courtesy of Muhammad Sufiyan Khan’s brilliant goal.

The green shirts completely dominated the first half while Chinese players struggled to keep possession. However, Jiesheng Gao helped level things for China with an excellent flick from a penalty corner in the 32nd minute.

China’s comeback into the game was however cut short as Afraz scored in the 39th minute to give Pakistan a match-defining lead.

The green shirts put on a great effort to prevent China from firing the equalizer and thus tasted their maiden success in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy.

Pakistan’s Rana Abdul, who was adjudged the player of the match termed the victory over China a crucial one and revealed that the young team is looking forward to their tie against arch-rivals India.

“This game was really crucial for us. The young team played incredibly and we are looking forward to the India game,” said Abdul in the post-match presentation.

Pakistan’s first win in the Asian Champions Trophy propelled them to fourth place. Meanwhile, China’s hopes of reaching the semifinals have been diminished.

Notably, Pakistan was winless in the Asian Champions Trophy before this game, as they drew 3-3 against Japan yesterday.

Prior to that, they drew 1-1 against defending champions South Korea, while, they were handed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their first game.

Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India on August 9, while China will face Japan in their final group-stage match on the same day.

This is the seventh edition of the Asian Champions Trophy. Pakistan have won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while India have won in 2011 and 2016.

The 2018 edition saw Pakistan and India jointly sharing the trophy as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain.

Defending champions South Korea won the tournament in 2021 after thumping Japan on penalties.

READ: Pakistan endure setback ahead of China clash in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

CHENNAI: Pakistan hockey team sustained a big blow ahead of the clash against China in the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy as Muhammad Abdullah’s participation in the match is in doubt due to ailment.

According to the national team’s coach, Olympian Muhammad Saqlain told that Muhammad Abdullah complained of a high fever, and was subsequently admitted to a local hospital here.

However, after remaining under observation for a few hours, doctors revealed that Abdullah’s health status is improving and he will be discharged in the evening.

Pakistan’s team is yet to win a single game in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, as they drew 3-3 against Japan yesterday.

Japan had the upper hand until the final minutes of the game, however, Pakistan’s Muhammad Khan scored an equalizing penalty stroke in the last five minutes to draw the game.

Pakistan started the match on a high with a goal in the 9th minute but only for Japan to equalize in the 13th minute. But Pakistan took the lead again, just minutes before halftime.

Japan came with renewed energy in the second half and kept creating chances until they scored one to equalize.

Japan, filled with one momentum, extended their dominance and took the lead with another goal.

Japan’s 3-2 advantage lasted until Muhammad Khan scored an equalizing penalty just minutes before the final whistle.

Pakistan’s last game also ended in a 1-1 draw against South Korea. They had the lead early on, but couldn’t hold on to it for long as South Korea scored in the 53rd minute.

This is the 7th edition of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy. Pakistan have won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while India have won in 2011 and 2016.

The 2018 edition saw Pakistan and India jointly sharing the trophy as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain.

Defending champions South Korea won the tournament in 2021 after thumping Japan on penalties.

Green Shirts will face China, today, while their clash with arch-rivals India is scheduled on August 9.

READ: Pakistan’s squad for Hockey Asian Champions Trophy announced

CHENNAI: Pakistan hockey team remained winless in the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy after their hard-fought match against Japan drew at 3-3.

Japan had the upper hand until the final minutes of the game, however, Pakistan’s Muhammad Khan scored an equalizing penalty stroke in the last five minutes to draw the game.

Pakistan started the match on a high with a goal in the 9th minute but only for Japan to equalize in the 13th minute. But Pakistan took the lead again, just minutes before halftime.

Japan came with renewed energy in the second half and kept creating chances until they scored one to equalize.

Japan, filled with one momentum, extended their dominance and took the lead with another goal.

Japan’s 3-2 advantage lasted until Muhammad Khan scored an equalizing penalty just minutes before the final whistle.

Pakistan’s last game also ended in a 1-1 draw against South Korea. They had the lead early on, but couldn’t hold on to it for long as South Korea scored in the 53rd minute.

This is the 7th edition of the Asian Champions Trophy. Pakistan have won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while India have won in 2011 and 2016.

The 2018 edition saw Pakistan and India jointly sharing the trophy as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain.

Defending champions South Korea won the tournament in 2021 after thumping Japan on penalties.

Green Shirts will face China, and India in their next fixtures on August 7 and 9 respectively.

READ: Korea hold Pakistan for a 1-1 draw in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee on Friday, unveiled an 18-member squad for the upcoming Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place from August 3 to 12 in Chennai, India.

According to the details, the 18-member squad with seven stand-by players were finalised after the conclusion of two-day trials and was approved by PHF President Brigadier Khalid Sajjad Khokhar.

Umar Bhutta will continue to lead the national men’s hockey team while Abdul Waheed Ashraf will serve as his deputy in the Asian Champions Trophy.

The recently-announced squad includes Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtisham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (vc), Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqub, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz and Abdul Rahman.

Meanwhile, Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan and Abdul Qayyum have been included in the stand-by players’ list.

Last month, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) unveiled the schedule of the upcoming Asian Hockey Champions Trophy.

As per the statement released by the AHF, the six-team tournament will run from August 3 to 12 in Chennai.

The tournament will begin with Korea and Japan playing the first game, while hosts, India will play the third game of the opening day when they take on China.

The six-team tournament will see Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, China, and India battle it out for top honours. All the participating teams are placed in one pool and the positions on the points table will be decided by a league system.

Pakistan will start their Asian Hockey Champions Trophy campaign against Malaysia on August 3 before taking on Korea on August 4, Japan on August 6 and China on August 7.

The green shirts will then lock horns with arch-rivals India in their last round fixture on August 9.

The final of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy will be held on August 12.

Notably, Pakistan and India are the most successful sides of the tournament, having won the title thrice each while Korea will participate in the upcoming edition as the defending champions, who won the previous edition in 2021.

The training camp of the shortlisted players for the national team to participate in the upcoming edition of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy was held at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore.

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