Review 2003 Pakistan manage 21 wins in 33 outings](http://www.phf.com.pk/news_detail.php?ID=505)
Penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas maintained himself as annual leading scorer for Pakistan for the sixth successive year. He struck 28 goals in 2003, four above second-placed striker Kashif Jawwad ( 24 goals ). Sohail has certainly won many fans and a high rating in his six-year international career which started with the 1998 Pak-India Series. He is rated by pundits as the best short corner specialist in the world.
Pakistan managed 114 goals in 33 international matches they played in 2003. Pakistan won 21 of them while they suffered nine defeats. Three matches were ended in draw. Pakistani defence failed to show satisfactory display and conceded 74 goals.
Pakistan started the year 2003 in fine style when they made the clean sweep of three-test series against Malaysia. After winning the test matches 5-3 and 4-1 at Kuala Lumpur, they won the last test 1-0 at Ipoh.
Pakistan got sufficient practice during that series and went on to win Azlan Shah Cup. The 12th edition of Azlan Shah Cup was staged at Ipoh from March 22-30 and Pakistan struck late winner through left-winger Shabbir Hussain in 1-0 final win over the World Champions Germany. It was revengeful defeat as Germany had defeated Pakistan 4-3 in league. Pakistan started the tourney in whirlwind fashion by beating New Zealand 6-1. Their other victories were against Malaysia (3-1) and Korea (1-0).
It was third time after 1999 and 2000 that Pakistan won the annual tournament played in honor of ninth King of Malaysia (1989-94) who is also President of Asian Hockey Federation.
Shahnaz Sheikh was Pakistani coach in Azlan Shah Cup’s win but he was removed when Pakistan finished fourth in both three-nation tournaments at Australia. Pakistan played those two mini tournaments without Sohail Abbas, Wasim Ahmed and Muhammad Nadeem who were busy in German Bundesliga.
Pakistan had a tough time at Perth when they lost to Australia A 3-5 in league and then 1-2 in bronze-medal tie. Pakistan also lost to Australia 0-3 and India 0-2. Australia won the competition by beating India but the reverse was true when all four teams gathered at Sydney. Pakistan showed little improvement when they defeated Australia A 1-0 and drew with ultimate champion India 4-4 in an exciting tussle. Pakistan also played well against Australia and finally beaten by 3-4. But the bronze-medal tie once again gave frustrations to Pakistan as they lost 2-5 to Australia’ second string.
The twin tournaments were held in May-June and when camp for 25th Champions Trophy was announced, Abdul Rashid Jr took over the managership from Shahnaz (Shahnaz appointed manager of the team for Australian tour following the tragic death of Col. ® Shahid Hamid Jaffrey who was the team manager in the 2003 Azlan Shah Cup and died because of a heart attack. ).
When the Chinese team toured Karachi, Wasim and Sohail were not seen in Pakistan team that won the test matches at Pakistan Steel Sports Complex Ground 6-2 and UBL Complex 7-0.
Sohail and Wasim were in Pakistan squad announced for 25th CT and Sohail was among scorers when Pakistan lost to the Netherlands 2-5 in Amstelveen Test. But when both the teams appeared in 25th CT tie on 19 August 2003, the match ended 2-2. It was Pakistan’s second draw in Silver Jubilee CT after 4-4 draw with Oceania Champion Australia. Pakistan gained full points when they defeated Argentina 6-5 and Germany 5-2. Their only lost in league was against India by 4-7. After a day rest, Pakistan turned the table and beat India 4-3 to gain bronze medal.
Pakistan also edged out India 4-2 in September’s Asia Cup and topped Group-B. They earlier defeated Bangadesh 8-0 and China 7-1. Pakistan worked hard to beat Japan 3-1 in the semi-final and it was do-or-die battle between Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup final at KL on 28 September. The score stood 2-2 until 69th minute when India suddenly struck twice to win the final 4-2.
Hassan Sardar acted as manager when under-strength Pakistan participated in Ist Afro Asian Games Hockey Tournament at Hyderabad Deccan. Pakistan struggled to beat Nigeria 4-3 and Egypt 3-1 and lost to India 2-4 in Group-B. The 2-0 semi-final win over Korea revived new hopes in Pakistan but they lost to India 1-3 on 31 October 2003 at The Hockey Complex, Gachibowli.
FIH Master Coach Roelant Oltmans, appointed coach of Pakistan team on 8 October, was also at Hyderabad and he took over the national team in December 2003 when Pakistan was able to beat Malaysia 3-1 and 4-1 at newly-laid poligras of HCP, Karachi. The first match was part of triangular series in which third team was Pakistan Junior.
The disciplinary action taken against Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmed (both were fined Rs.100,000 for participating in the German league with Harvestehuder THC without the federation’s endorsement) raised a great deal of debate affecting the preparation and focus of Pakistan team. But despite all problems, Sohail kept himsef cool and continued to score goals. He, so far, managed 215 goals in 173 matches. Dutch PC expert Floris-Jan Bovelander also have same number of goals in 241 matches.
Sohail was also Pakistan’s leading scorer in previous five years when he struck 20 goals in 1998, 60 in 1999, 26 in 2000, 37 in 2001 and 44 in 2002. Besides Sohail and Jawwad, other Pakistani scorers in 2003 are : Khalid Salim 10, Rehan Butt 9, Ghazanfar Ali 8, Shabbir Hussain 7, Shakil Abbasi and Nadeem 6, Mudassar Ali Khan 5, Muhammad Saqlain 4, Ali Raza 3. Sameer Hussain, Shafiqul Islam, Aqeel Khan and Wasim Ahmed managed to hit the target once.