LAHORE, Aug 30: Disappointed by the performance of his players in the crucial semi-final against South Korea in Ipoh, Malaysia on Friday, which also saw Pakistan ouster from the World Cup after 42 years, head coach Akhtar Rasool said a good number of missed chances by the strikers resulted in the loss despite the team’s fine effort on the whole.

“Undoubtedly, it is disappointing and a bad day for Pakistan hockey, but believe me, we did our best to win this match but missed strikes played a major role in the defeat,” Akhtar said from Ipoh, Malaysia, while talking to Dawn after his team lost the semi-final.

Pakistan which had won four World Cups in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994 will for the first time not be seen in the mega event, to be held in Holland in 2014.

“The players gave their hearts out and we remained in the South Korea’s half most of the time, showing superior ball-possession skills,” said Akhtar. “We also provided them fewer chances to attack due to our packed defence but they cashed in the few opportunities they got and we missed them,” Akhtar said.

Asked how he saw the future of Pakistan hockey after this as Greenshirts might also not be playing the next year’s Commonwealth Games, Akhtar said he could not make any comment on this since he is surrounded by his players whom he was trying to motivate for the third place tie against Malaysia.

He, however, said that after the match, he would be in a position to comment on Pakistan future.

It may be mentioned here that a tussle between the federal government and the IOC-recognised Pakistan Olympic Association headed by Arif Hasan is threatening Pakistan’s participation in the next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Though the CW Games organisers had sent an invitation to the POA, the government has not allowed the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to accept it since it has been sent through the Arif Hasan-led body.