Weaknesses identified in Aussie Test series

THE five test matches against Australia exposed major weaknesses in the Malaysian defence, and there seems to be no leader to take control of the midfield.
The forwards are as blunt as ever and this could spell disaster at the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand on Nov 7-15.
Malaysia are in the same ship with New Zealand, China, Austria, Wales and Scotland in the Qualifiers, and only the gold medallists advance to the New Delhi World Cup next year.
And if Malaysia and China fail to win the gold in Invercargil, and Pakistan and Japan fail in Lille, France, then only South Korea and India will represent Asia in the World Cup.
“I have selected the best in the country, and we have been working to achieve the gold target set by the MHF (Malaysian Hockey Federation).
“The five matches against Australia have shown me what my team are capable of.
“It will not be easy playing New Zealand at home, and also the other European teams but we have as good a chance as the other five teams,” said coach Tai Beng Hai.
Australia scored a total of 16 goals, while Malaysia were on target eight times in the five matches.
And considering that both Australia and Malaysia were experimenting with their teams, the statistics are not too bad, but the penalty corners and shots at goals will surely give the coach sleepless nights in the weeks leading to Invercargill.
Australia won an average of nine penalty corners in every match, while their shots at goal averaged to about 20.
“We missed many penalty corners because the runners were fast and Malaysia had a good defence battery, but against a team with a good flicker, the scores would be disastrous,” said Australian coach Richard Charleswor th.
Malaysia were guilty of giving away penalty corners too easily, and Beng Hai has very little time to rectify this problem.
“I experimented by rotating defenders and trying out new combinations and probably that is why the defence was porous because of this.
“But it also showed me the best combination, and that is what the five matches were held for in the first place,” said Beng Hai.

Pakistan fly out to Lille on a prayer

If Pakistan and Japan fail in France; China and Malaysia fail in New Zealand, then only South Korea and hosts India will represent Asia in the 2010 World Cup.

By Khalid Hussain.

KARACHI: Hopes were high as Pakistan’s hockey squad flew out of Lahore for Paris in the early hours of Sunday to launch its campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers getting underway in the northern French city of Lille from October 31.
Pakistan — record four-time world champions — who have never missed a World Cup since its inception in 1971 are facing a do-or-die situation after coming agonisingly close to winning a direct berth for the 2010 World Cup to be played in New Delhi from February 28-March 13.
The Greenshirts could have made the cut for the World Cup by winning the Asia Cup in Malaysia last May but lost in a close final against Korea, who won a ticket to New Delhi.
Now the Pakistanis will have to win the six-nation Qualifiers in Lille which feature Japan, Poland, Russia, France and Italy to confirm a World Cup spot.
Pakistan won the inaugural World Cup in 1971 (Spain) before clinching three more titles in 1978 (Argentina), 1882 (Bombay) and 1994 (Australia).
Their preparatory plans for the Lille assignment received a major blow when they had to cancel a warm-up tour of Europe last month due to visa delays. They had planned to play eight matches in Poland, France and Belgium but had to scrap the tour after being told by the French authorities that they will take their time before processing the team’s visa applications.
However, there was finally some good news for the Lille-bound squad, when the French authorities issued a visa to young forward Abbas Haider on an urgent basis.
Pakistani officials were left looking for a replacement when it was learnt that Abbas — who returned home after playing professional hockey in Europe — needed a visa for the Lille assignment. Abbas’s German visa was due to expire on October 30, a day before the start of the Qualifiers.
Team officials had spotted Sibtain Raza as a possible replacement for Abbas but were relieved when the youngster was issued a French visa.
“It’s quite a relief for us,” Shahid Ali Khan, the Pakistan coach, told ‘The News’ on Saturday. “Abbas is a pretty good player and we will need him in Lille,” he added.
Pakistan are scheduled to arrive in Paris early afternoon and would be leaving for Lille right away.
“We will be in Lille tomorrow evening and will be carrying out a series of training sessions there over the next five days,” he said.
According to the training schedules provided by the organisers, Pakistan will train daily from October 26 till their tournament opener against minnows Italy next Saturday.
Shahid said that the team officials will try to line up a couple of warm-up matches with some of the participating teams.
“Our biggest task is to acclimatise with the cold conditions in Lille,” said Shahid, a former Olympian who has been told that northern France is already freezing under an early winter this time of the year. “That is why we really want to play a couple of practice matches before the start of the tournament.”
Shahid said that his team is confident of winning the title in Lille and confirm a place for the World Cup. “We are leaving with high hopes and I’m confident that the team will not disappoint hockey fans back home,” he said.
A total of 15 players left for Paris from Lahore early Sunday while the other three — Wasim Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Salman Akber — will join their teammates directly in Lille Sunday night. The trio has to feature in their league matches in Holland on Sunday and will leave for Lille after featuring for their respective clubs.
PAKISTAN: Zeeshan Ashraf (captain), Salman Akbar, Nasir Ahmed, Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Waseem Ahmed, Sajjad Anwar, Fareed Ahmed, Mohammad Rashid, Rehan Butt, Shakil Abbasi, Haseem Khan, Abbas Haider, Akhtar Ali, Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Zubair. Asif Bajwa (manager), Shahid Ali Khan (coach).

Tampin-born Kumar gets Ric boost

Malaysian reserve goalkeeper S. Kumar (right) hugs Nasihin Nubli after Malaysia beat England to win bronze in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Today, Kumar is among the best in the world. Photo: Getty Images.

THE Malaysian hockey team drew 2-2 with Australia in their final Test yesterday, and coach Tai Beng Hai named three Junior World Cup players for the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand.
Faizal Saari 18, Marhan Jalil 19, and Ahmad Kazamirul 21, will be representing Malaysia in the Qualifier on Nov 7- 15.
Malaysia lost three matches 3-1, 5-1 and 3-1, and drew 3- 3 and 2-2 in the Five Test series which was used by Beng Hai to name his final-18 for the Qualifier.
Leading the charge will be 30-year-old Madzli Ikmar, who was named as skipper, and 30-year-old goalkeeper S. Ku mar.
Kumar, a seasoned campaigner, received a timely boost when Australian coach Richard Charlesworth said: “Kumar is among the best goalkeepers in the world, and his ex perience will count in the Qualifier.”
“I am among the handful of experienced players in the team, and the Australian coaches’ encouraging words is surely a boost leading to the Qualifier.
“What I am today, is a product of hard work put in by former national coach Paul Lissek. It will not be easy in New Zealand, but I will give my best,” said Kumar.
Beng Hai played five Junior World Cup players in the final Test yesterday, and surprisingly, the youthful squad man aged to match the Australians.
Australia took the lead off B. dancer in the 11th minute, only to see Malaysia level the score in the 14th minute off an Amin Rahim penalty corner flick.
Beng Hai’s men then took the lead off Azlan Misron, who tucked in the ball off a penalty corner set-piece in the 47th minute.
However, D. Guest nailed the equaliser in the 53rd minute to deny Malaysia their glory hour.
However, while praising the Malaysian goalkeeper, Charlesworth also sent in a warning: “We has 25 shots at goal, and 12 penalty corners (in the Fifth Test) and only scored two goals.
“But in the Qualifier, Malaysia can’t afford to give away so many chances to their opponents, especially those who have good penalty corner flickers.”
MALAYSIA: Goalkeepers: S. Kumar (30 years old), Khair ulnizam Ibrahim (25); Defenders: Madzli Ikmar (30), Amin Rahim (29), C. Baljit Singh (22), Jiwa Mohan (29), Ahmad Kazamirul (21).
Midfielders: Shahrun Nabil (24), Sukri Mutalib (23), Kelvinder Singh (24), Nabil Fiqri (22), Jivan Mohan (26), Marhan Jalil (19).
FOrwards: Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (23), Razie Rahim (22), Faizal Saari (18), Azlan Misron (26), S. Selvaraju (24).

Fourth Test: Mas 1 Aust 3

Jason Wilson (pic), 21, a Queensland Blades open striker, scored 13 goals at the 2009 AHL tournament.

Malaysia 1 -- Mohamed Amerullah (36th, FG)
Australia 3 -- Glen Turner (16thPC, 35th FG), Jason Wilson (41st, FG).

MALAYSIA blew four sitters, while Australia scored three gift goals to snatch a 3-1 win in the Fourth Test at the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Malaysia are involved in a Five-test series with Australia to prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand on Nov 7-15.
The score now is Australia with three 3-1, 5-1 and 3-1 wins, while Malaysia held them to a 3-3 draw in the Third Test.

Winning combination, not win

NATIONAL hockey coach Tai Beng Hai is looking for a winning combination, rather than a win in the five test series against World No 2 Australia.
Malaysia lost the first test 3-1, the second 5-1 and held the Aussies 3-3 in the third test in Kuantan on Thursday.
Today, the Australians will be looking to seal the series with their third win at the Tun Razak Stadium, while Beng Hai will continue experimenting leading to the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand on Nov 7-15.
The shifting of players' positions and trying out younger aspirants are necessary, as Beng Hai shuts the door on the experienced players that he dropped from the training squad.
"I am happy with what I have and will not recall players who have withdrawn and those who have been dropped from the training squad for the qualifier.
"We must look forward as there is not much time leading to our most important target which is the qualifier," said Beng Hai.
The coach's stand has firmly closed any avenue for appeal from Ismail Abu, who withdrew from training after he was caught playing truant from weights training.
"I will place my trust on those who have been training diligently for the qualifier, otherwise I will be sending the wrong signal, by condoning indiscipline," said Beng Hai.
Australia are in the midst of preparing for the Champions Trophy in Melbourne on Nov 28-Dec 6. However, they are in Malaysia without nine first choice players, and out of the 22, 12 have less than 20 caps.
"I know that the fans are looking for a win but I can't afford to push my players to the limit so close to the qualifier.
"I am worried about players picking up injuries, and as I have said before, the five matches are a great avenue for me to test borderline cases, and if we secure a win in the process, it will be an added bonus," said Beng Hai.
FOURTH TEST 24/10/09: Malaysia v Australia (5.30pm, Tun Razak Stadium).
FIFTH TEST 25/10/09: Malaysia v Australia (5.30pm, Tun Razak Stadium).