KARACHI: The young Pakistani side was outplayed 5-1 by the experienced World XI in the first of two-match series between Pakistan and World XI in Karachi on Friday.
Pakistan got the earlier lead in the first quarter when Adeel Latif converted a good move into a goal in the 6th minute of the match.
Pakistan maintained their 1-0 lead in two quarters but couldn’t keep the control in the third quarter which saw World XI turning the match around with four consecutive goals.
Captain Roderick Weusthof converted a penalty corner into a goal for the World XI to put Pakistan under pressure.
The Dutch striker scored in the 33rd and 36th minute to give World XI a lead of 2-1. Five minutes later, Australian Grant Schubert scored to extend the lead 3-1. Phillip Meulenbroek scored the 4th goal for the touring side.
Spanish David Alegre did it 5-1 for the World XI side with a beautiful flick to score his first goal in the match.
The second match of the two-match series will be held on January 21 in Lahore.
The inauguration ceremony of the tournament was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The World XI hockey team is touring Pakistan from January 18 to 21 to play against Pakistan’s senior team. The visiting team comprises of players from Australia, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Spain.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief had earlier said that the World XI’s tour will be a step forward in bringing back international hockey to the country and to organise the Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) in April next year.
Field hockey, despite being Pakistan’s national sport, has been in a state of free fall for at least the last two decades. Mismanagement, diminishing fan interest, a lack of sponsorship deals, government grants, poor on-field results as well as foreign teams’ refusal to visit Pakistan owing to law and order situation; all contributed to the sport’s rapid decline in what was once a proud hockey playing nation.
However, security concerns of international athletes have subsided a great deal over the past year with foreign cricketers’ visiting Lahore for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2 final, World XI side’s visit in September and Sri Lankan team’s arrival in October are also cases in point.
Those visits encouraged the PHF to follow suit — a move the federation believes would give a much-needed boost to their sport.
