Now they face a Dutch test Saturday, a match they must win to keep their campaign on track.It is not only the defending champions they need to beat though. Also standing in the way as they chase a semifinal berth are 1998 Utrecht runners-up Spain and European champions Germany, with all three sides ahead of Pakistan in the “Group of Death”.
And if death needs to be avoided, then Pakistan, four time winners of the World Cup, have to pull up their socks and function like a well-oiled machine in their upcoming matches.
Although victories over, South Africa, Belgium and New Zealand yielded nine points, the Pakistan forwards, known for their fast and flowing moves, have yet to put up a class act. The half-line too has not been all that impressive while Sohail Abbas, Pakistan’s saviour from short corners needs to raise his game while defending.
Coach Hanif Khan, aiming to emulate Abdul Rasheed Junior, by winning the World Cup both as a player and coach, feels that the half-line of Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Saqlain and Waseem Ahmed has yet to come good.
“The forwards have to have the support of the halves and that is why they have looked disjointed here.”
Pakistan’s 1-2 defeat to Argentina was because the half-line was off-colour and the experienced players let the team down,” Hanif told Dawn Friday, a rest day for them.
“Shahbaz Ahmed has not done as much as we had expected because he is not being supported by the half-line,” he said.
But whatever the coach might think, the bottom-line is that the task ahead is tough. Victories must come, three of them, as two wins and a draw could prove to be a fatal blow to Pakistan’s chances of making the last four.
Pakistan know only too well that Netherland are going to be no easy opponents. The Dutch are bidding to become only the second team to win the World Cup four times and have done well in Kuala Lumpur.