India Moving In A Vacuum

Seldom has there been such a low-key India-Pakistanclash in hockey as was the case of the first Test of the India leg. Coming infor the home leg trailing 1-2, the Indian hockey team would have been expectedto first cover up the deficit and then make a bid to emulate the cricket team inthis 'Dosti' series.

Sadly, neither did the game rise to any great levelsnor was there any sign of the Indian team showing any motivation and plan totake a lead in their home leg. From the very start, the game was fairly dull anduninspiring. No wonder the fans were left disappointed by the quality of hockeyas also the end result which was a 1-3 defeat for the home side. This now meansthat India are trailing 1-3 in the series.

The Indian forward line had in one of the matchesshowed signs of settling into a rhythm and suggesting that they might improve asthe series continued. But unfortunately after that one game, the second Test inPakistan, which India won 4-1, the Indian team has been very inconsistent.

They seem to have no definite on-field plan. Nor isthere any sign of improvisation. Add to that wastage of penalty corners -- theywasted five in the Delhi Test. It is full recipe for disaster. In modern hockey,one simply cannot afford to miss so many penalty corners. Or at least there mustbe enough firepower to score off field goals, which again is missing in thisyoung and inexperienced Indian team.

Pakistan may have also wasted a lot of chances, buttheir experienced forwards seem to find some way to score. Kashif Jawaid,Shakeel Abbassi, Rehan Butt and others have managed to find the target in almostall matches.

Then they have a trump card called Sohail Abbas, who issurely the most dreaded penalty corner specialist in the world. Now with a worldrecord equalling effort, he will be further encouraged and inspired.

When the series was first announced, there were talksabout whether either side would be motivated enough after the Olympic Games. Atthat time, coach Gerhard Rach had said there cannot be any greater motivationthan playing for one's own country and that, too, against Pakistan. Perfect andtruly said. But sadly this team does not seem to be showing that spirit orfeeling.

The Pakistanis have found a goal for themselves in theform of Champions Trophy in Pakistan later this year, but India seem to bemoving around in a vacuum. This is precisely what Rach will have to guardagainst.

The old Indian failing of poor trapping and inabilityto settle in quickly cost them the first goal, and then they were almost readyto end the match regardless of the scoreline which was 1-2 against them at thattime.

In this situation, Pakistan earned a penalty cornerwhich became a stroke and Abbas scored his world record equalling goal. Inbetween they had one more.

India managed one goal, but that was rather fortunate.Sandeep Michael just happened to put his stick out for a tap-in that resulted ina goal. Frankly, there was no planned move there either.

Throughout the match, barring the odd occasion, therewas no plan and the net result was India never tested the Pakistani defence ortheir goalkeeper. The result might have been only 3-1 but Pakistan trulyoutplayed India. Hopefully, this trend will be reversed in the next three games.Win or lose, at least let us have some good hockey.

One thing I cannot understand, is the timing of thematches. Hockey matches in such hot and humid weather at 1.30 pm in theafternoon and on a weekday. Surely, there cannot be anything worse to attractcrowds. That's probably why the Pakistani players, too, were surprised at thepoor response from the public.

As for the weather, no one can answer it better thancoach Rach, who himself was a victim of dehydration and go off into the dressingroom. Surely, Rach should emphasise the need to have matches at a better time,where fans, players and generally everyone can enjoy some good hockey.

Of course, if India wins, that will be the icing on thecake.

PTI