KARACHI, May 17 Pakistan's hockey legends hailed national team's performance in the eighth Asia Cup in Kuantan, Malaysia.

The green-shirts managed to reach the final where they lost 0-1 against South Korea on Saturday.

“Pakistan would have won the final had they availed the chances,” chief selector Hasan Sardar commented.

“Pakistan broke into the Korean defence and created many chances but could not avail them,” he added.

He hailed the performance of coach and manager “Asif Bajwa [manager] and Shahid Ali Khan [coach] did their homework and prepared the team well.

“Pakistan improved its weaknesses and defeated formidable teams like India and Malaysia,” said Hasan.

The former Olympian was all praise for senior players who guided youngsters and made a strong combination with them.

“I expect we will be a formidable team in the world circuit soon,” he said.

Another legendary Olympian Samiullah said, “I think we can now expect good results from the team. They played really well in the Asia Cup.”

He added, “Pakistan dominated the first half of the final and were quite organised, but in the second half, some of the players displayed individual game which went against the team.

“Overall, the team played well in the tournament,” he said.

“The gamble that the PHF took by including senior players in the team went in their favour. Goalkeeper Salman Akbar performed impressively but he didn't give the same performance in the final,” Samiullah said.

He suggested that the PHF should start preparation for the World Cup in 2010.

“They must start their preparation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and give a good show in the prestigious event,” he said.

“We hope that the morale will be boosted with this event's fine show and Pakistan hockey will come to the right track again,” he concluded.—PPI