Pakistan hockey team draws inspiration from Champions Trophy victory

Pakistan hockey captain Abdul Haseem Khan has called for his team to draw inspiration from the success of the national cricket team in the ICC Champions Trophy. Their victory is now being used as a model to boost team morale. The Pakistan hockey camp now possesses an indomitable aura and the cricket team’s stunning resurgence in the ICC Champions Trophy is part of a mental drill the backroom staff is now adopting.

The Former World Cup and Olympic champions Pakistan lost 3-1 against Argentina in the quarterfinal match of the Hero Hockey World League on Thursday. The Men in Green have suffered a severe dip in their form. They did not play in the Rio Olympics 2016 and haven’t played in a World Cup since 2010 in Delhi. The Asian team will now play for the fifth-sixth place and would be hoping to make the cut for the 2018 World Cup to be played in India.

According to Hindustan Times, secretary-general of Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Ahmed said, “Yes, the cricket team is now a role model for the hockey players. Their exploits are being showcased to the hockey team and you never know what result it could produce.”

Pakistan has conceded a total of 21 goals and scored just five in the Hockey World League. However, the odds are stacked heavily against 13th-ranked team and if they can successfully stage an upset, cricket can take some credit.

Speaking about their quarterfinal defeat, skipper Abdul Khan said, “We have shown signs of improvement. Our defense has been a big issue and we are trying to rectify that. We have a young team and we have to be patient. We won’t give up,”

The Pakistan cricket team, on the other hand, humiliated defending champions India by 180 runs at The Oval on Sunday to win their maiden Champions Trophy. Coming into the tournament as the lowest ranked side, Pakistan grew as a better side over the course of the tournament and the victory was a result of their hard work.