By Shahid Khan
Nadeem Ahmad breaks the deadlock for Pakistan.
Pakistan hockey team put up a spirited performance against arch-rivals India in the FIH Pro League, at Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London going down 3-4 in a closely contested match despite battling injuries and absence to key players including their captain, Ammad Butt.
In their first ever encounter in a FIH Pro League the two teams shook hands as they kept their off-field diplomatic issues aside. Whilst India have been participating in the League in all its seven editions this is Pakistan’s maiden attempt.
Pakistan starting strongly drew first blood as they stunned the Indian supporters with Nadeem Ahmad slotting home a well worked penalty corner drill.
However. India having defeated Netherlands (3-2) in their previous outing in the Pro League gradually took control as they struck back through Abhishek in the 22nd minute and Nilakanta Sharma in the 24th minute as the teams went into the half time break.
The second half saw Sukhjit Singh and Rajinder Singh score successive goals for India before Pakistan’s captain Abubakar Mahmood and Moin Shakeel pulled goals back through penalty corners to make the scoreline 3-4, but it was not enough to salvage a result.
Goalkeeper Ali Raza produced a series of crucial saves throughout the contest, preventing the margin of defeat from being wider.
Greenshirts coaching staff which included newly recruited and highly acclaimed Waseem Ahmad was heartened by the team's performance especially by their hallmark counter attacks which he thought should have been more productive.
Pakistan who remains pointless after12 matches in the FIH Pro League and will face second placed England in their next match on Wednesday.
Fieldhockey Exclusive