LAHORE: The Pakistan hockey team and board have attributed crowd behaviour as the major reason for the team’s poor performance in the Commonwealth Games hockey event.
The captain of Pakistan hockey team along with the Pakistan Hockey Federation stated that the abuses hurled at them by the Indian fans in their 7-4 loss to India were a decisive factor in the context of the game.
Accusing the Indian audience for the loss, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa asserted that the Pakistani players had to go through abusive and insulting chants during their matches at the event. Pakistan captain, Zeeshan Ashraf, also blamed the Indian crowd for their loss, saying that they were under extreme pressure on the field.
Bajwa further said: “It is now more difficult for our players when they play in India and there is more pressure on them because of the treatment they get from the spectators. I am not making excuses for my team’s loss to India but this type of attitude from spectators puts extra pressure on them.”
Pakistan finished sixth after their humiliating loss to India. The Indians had also defeated the green shirts in a World Cup match in Delhi earlier this year.
