KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15: Defending champions Pakistan and Australia fought out a 2-2 draw in a rather tame encounter on Thursday in seven-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey.

Pakistan thus completed their league engagements with a tally of 14 points to confirm their entry into Sunday's final besdies being the only team to remain unbeaten.

Australia, now on eight points, need to beat Germany on Friday to book their berth in the final. A draw will suffice for Germany to face Pakistan for trophy. Aussies had their goals from Liam de Young (13th) and Michael Boyce (56th) while Pakistan replied through Sohail Abbas (37th) and Saleem Khalid (51st).

In a game that either team could have won, the forwards bungled repeatedly, and for Pakistan, their penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas could convert just one from eight attempts, a couple of which were well blocked by goalkeeper Mark Hickman. However, Hickman blotted his record by letting in Khalid's innocuous reverse hit after Pakistani forward had cut through from the centre-line with a dazzling solo run.

Australia, struggling for pace and precision, enjoyed few moments of dominance during which they got both their goals as de Young made an indirect conversion and 14 minutes from close, Boyce let fly from the top following a free-hit that caught the entire Pakistani defence flat-footed.

Seven of the world's top 10 teams are taking part in the 10-day tournament in Kuala Lumpur. But many are fielding untested combinations and new players as part of fine-tuning for Olympic qualifiers in March.

Pakistan 2 Australia 2 -PPI