I think Pakistan is already qualified for 3rd place at least. One more to goto make it to the final.
Sohail Abbas is 52 goals behind world record holder Paul Litjens
By : Syed Akber Ali Wahidi
The world’s deadliest penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas is already the holder of three world records in his six-year international career. He is the scorer of the highest number of goals (60) in a calendar year as well as the maker of the fastest century and double century of goals in international hockey. He reached double century of goals on 17 August 2003 at Amstelveen’s Wagener stadium when he struck twice in 6-5 thrilling win over Argentina during 25th Champions Trophy (CT).
The 25th Champions Trophy was fifth CT for Sohail and in the process he becomes the all-time leading scorer of Pakistan in this prestigious annual event. He toppled Hanif Khan ‘s 21- goal record by converting the PC against Argentina in the 7th minute. It was his 22nd goal of Champions trophy history. Sohail managed 28 goals in CT history and these 28 goals also lifts him among the top-five scorers of Champions Trophy. He is now four goals behind all-time leader Mark Hager, an Australian striker of great scoring abilities, who have 32 goals under his belt. Sohail is well poised to break Hager ‘s record infront of his own fans when Lahore will stage 26th Champions Trophy at Lahore from December 4-12, 2004. Pakistan, alongwith Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, have already qualified for 26th Champions Trophy while other two qualifiers will be decided after Athens Olympic Games Hockey tournament.
Sohail Abbas can easily be regarded as the true star of the 21st century. Following the retirement of the Dutch destroyer Floris-Jan Bovelander, Sohail is arguably the best short corner expert in business. Argentina’s Jorge Lombi, leading scorer in 25th CT, is second in line. Keeping Sohail ’s age in mind and provided he remained fit, he is expected to surpass the Paul Litjen’s record of 267 goals in 2005.
The irony and pity with Sohail was that in the beginning, his talent and abilities were not recognized and taken seriously. The Pakistan junior team manager Samiullah Khan and coach Ayaz Mahmood were not convinced to include him for the 1997 JWC that resulting in Pakistan not making it to the JWC semis for the first time in the Cup’s 18 -year history.
When he made his international debut during the 7th Pak-India series 1998, his role was only to come from the bench for penalty corner drills. When the rule was changed after the WC 1998, he was not considered for Commonwealth Games hockey event by the then coach Shahnaz Sheikh. He staged a comeback to win silver in CT and bronze in Asian Games in the same year. He was in terrific form in 1999 when Pakistan won the Azlan Shah Cup for the first time and got silver in Asia Cup. His 60 goals in 1999 shattered the world record of Paul Litjens (58 goals) and national record of Hassan Sardar (50 goals) in one calendar year.
Since there is no centralized statistics data available in FIH or at any other forum, Sohail, is also probably the quickest to complete the century of goals, reaching the three figures, when Pakistan thrashed Britain 8-1 in Sydney Olympics on 18 September 2000.
Born at Karachi on 9 June 1977, he is a natural short corner expert with a very strong wrist, a powerful drag flick and a complete disguising body dodge action. Sohail is bound to be singular super star of his era. One hopes that he is treated and taken care well in the deserving manner by the team officials.
Sohail, earlier discarded, ultimately slapped his critics on the face by exhibiting outstanding skills and high class performance to become back bone of the Pakistan team . The man, who used to represent Pakistan WAPDA in domestic hockey, has already scored over 215 goals in 174 matches. The last international for Sohail took place on poligras of HCP against Malaysia at Karachi on 14 December 2003 and he struck twice in this match. Under the Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, he converted two of the five PC awarded to Pakistan.
Despite such tremendous show, Sohail yet to win gold in major event. He represented Pakistan in Olympics 2000 and World Cup 1998 and 2002, but Pakistan failed to win any medal. He was silver and bronze medallist in Champions Trophy of 1998 and 2002 respectively and he also appeared in CT of 1999 and 2001. He is a blessing for Pakistan and his qualities and abilities should be exploited and used to inspire more players to follow Sohail Abbas’s footsteps.
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and this was before the start of Azlan Shah Cup :k: :jhanda:
wow! he’ll break the record inshallah :jhanda:
ehsan bhai, fantastic1 can u guys plz tell me on wot channel u can watch field hockey in north america. is it part of dish network or direct tv, or wot is it?
thanx
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by avid: *
ehsan bhai, fantastic1 can u guys plz tell me on wot channel u can watch field hockey in north america. is it part of dish network or direct tv, or wot is it?
thanx
[/QUOTE]
I have no idea as I do not live there.
[thumb=E]pakgermany10122_8614910.JPG[/thumb]
Consistent performance matters before this team can be referred to in the same breath as the great teams of the past. The team's tempo should be at peak level from the start to the end of the game, not just only in the closing stages. Pakistan were down three times in the game, three goals came not as a field goal, which is a worry sign. I am satisfied with the comments of Coach Roelant Oltmans. He's not getting carried away with the wins. He understands where team lacks consistency. The early good signs for Pakistan are because of Oltmans, who has instilled energy in the team as they have come from behind against India and Germany to win. But still alot needs to be done especially, forwards(Shabbir Hussain, Rehan Butt and Kashif Jawad) needs to draw more penalty corners and half-backs(Ghazanfar, Saqlain etc) needs to work on defence.
How about Ahmed Alam saving two flicks? Who says veteran players can't be efficient.
Congratulations to Sohail Abbas on his 18th career hat-trick. With 211 goals under his belt, he's only 46 goals behind all-time leading scorer Paul Litjens. Nice finished there by team's skipper, Nadeem.
I think it was Qasim saving those flicks 
waisay i did not watch germanys’ match completely so maybe yes.
Regarding Forwards, i think they are playing alomst at thiier best, only thing they are lacking is winnning penality corners, otherwise Field Goals are aplenty in this tournament, specially in matches against Spain and Korea.
Today's results:
Australia 4 India 2
Korea 4 Spain 1
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Pakistan 4 4 0 0 15 9 +6 12
Germany 4 3 0 1 12 8 +4 9
Australia 4 2 1 1 9 8 +1 7
Korea 4 1 1 2 8 8 0 4
Spain 4 1 1 2 9 12 -3 4
Malaysia 4 0 2 2 9 12 -3 2
India 4 0 1 3 7 12 -5 1
India outplayed by Australia](India outplayed by Australia)
India frittered a two-goal lead and went down to Australia 2-4 in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
The victory improved Australia’s chances of making the final. They have seven points from four matches, while India have a solitary point from as many outings.
The Asia Cup champions were done in by poor defending as Australia clawed their way back after Dhanraj Pillay scored twice, in the 15th and 16th minutes, from field goals.
Tristram Woodhouse cut India’s lead in the 26th minute with a neat deflection near the upright as Australia went into the breather down 1-2.
Seven minutes into the second session, Troy Elder scored off Australia’s fourth penalty corner, the first of the second session, to restore parity.
Thereafter, it was the Aussies who were always in command. With the Indian defence at sixes and sevens it was only a matter of time before they could forge ahead.
Ben Taylor made it 3-2 for Australia in the 51st minute when he found the mark after a quick passing bout that had rattled the Indian defence.
Four minutes later Adrain D’Souza replaced goalkeeper Kamaldeep Singh. He did well to effect a couple of save but was beaten almost at the hooter by Grant Schubert.
I didn’t watch the game either. Saw the highlights on pakistanvision.com and a Man who stands tall can’t be Qasim. It’s got to be Ahmed Alam.
However, Muhammad Qasim did play in games against India and Spain. Coach prefers veteran when playing against the likes of Germans, Aussies and Dutch.
Yeah you’re right. There have been field goals in this tournament but yaara Sohail Abbas, our potential weapon, is a human. He can’t score in every penalty corner. Remember, in the game of Korea, Pakistan had no penalty corners compared to Koreans who got 7. Thanks to the defence, Pakistan won that game. So, in order to have consistency, the team has to play perform as a team, not as One Man Show.
anybody watching pak VS malaysia?
Ehsan Bahi kahan hain aap plz mujhe bataeen Pakistan Ka Kya score hai Malaysia kay kalaf.
inshallah pakistan will win this match also
Pakistan 1 Malaysia 1
Germany 4 Spain 4
Korea 3 India 2
Pakistan, Malaysia in 1-1 draw](Pakistan, Malaysia in 1-1 draw)
Pakistani forwards came up with a listless display as their side settled for a 1-1 draw against Malaysia in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The hosts, in fact, raised visions of a victory when Kuhan Shanmuganathan put them ahead with a 43rd minute penalty corner conversion, but the Pakistanis replied in like manner through Sohail Abbas in the 48th minute.
Abbas had a wonderful chance to net the match-winner in the last minute, but his attempt from the third penalty corner was well saved by the goalkeeper.
The draw virtually confirmed Pakistan’s entry into the final with a tally of 13 points from five games, while the Malaysians inched up to three.
The usually razor-sharp Pakistani forwards found wanting inside the circle and the fact that they had just two tries from open play, both by Kashif Jawaad in the second-half, speaks for itself.
The Malaysians, on their part, displayed considerable enthusiasm and purpose that, like their counterparts, did not reflect in the striking circle.
Consequently, the ball swung from one end to the other with monotonous regularity. The moves were pretty to watch but not the action in front of the goalmouth.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by ehsan: *
**Pakistan 1 Malaysia 1
Germany 4 Spain 4
Korea 3 India 2*
[/QUOTE]
will pakistan stiil go to the finals?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nancy Drew: *
will pakistan stiil go to the finals?
[/QUOTE]
Yes - virtually confirmed. Read the report above.
I think Pakistan needed just a point to qualify for the final.
Pakistan Zindabad