Preview: India to lock horns against Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy

The two giants of Asian hockey will renew their rivalry in the upcoming contest.

The Indian hockey team will face Pakistan in their next match at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2021 in Bangladesh on Friday. Graham Reid’s men have a tough challenge in front of them, as these two teams were declared as joint-winners in the previous edition. Both India and Pakistan have won the Asian Champions Trophy three times each and will look to add a fourth title to their record. 

The 2018 edition of the tournament saw both countries become joint-winners, as the final could not take place due to adverse weather conditions. With both entering the tournament in Bangladesh as defending champions, the stakes are even higher. India and Pakistan are historical rivals due to their geographical proximity. Their contests, no matter which sport, are always full of energy and excitement. 

Here is what is in store in the upcoming clash between India and Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament:

Team India

India created history by winning the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Graham Reid’s men were very impressive in the tournament and were one of the favourites coming into the Asian Champions Trophy as a result. However, the first match against South Korea was a disappointment as it ended in a 2-2 draw. The Indian men gave up a two-goal lead to draw the game, putting pressure on themselves.

In contrast, the performance against Bangladesh was a brilliant reply. India defeated the hosts by a 9-0 scoreline, with Dilpreet scoring a hat-trick. This win gives India momentum ahead of the crucial clash against their neighbouring rivals. 

Team Pakistan

Pakistan were not able to secure an Olympic berth. Their performances in the last few years have been very inconsistent. The outfit also missed out on the 2016 Olympics in Rio after being unable to secure a qualifying spot. The team looks like a shadow of its former self.

Their appearance in the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy is the first in two years for the team at any international tournament. Pakistan's opening match against Japan ended in a goalless draw. The upcoming clash with India puts them in a tough situation due to the contrasting form and inconsistency.

Key Players

Harmanpreet Singh (India)

Harmanpreet Singh is the penalty-corner specialist of the Indian side participating in the Asian Champions Trophy. He was in terrific form when India won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The first two performances of the player in the ongoing tournament have been full of ups and downs.

In the match against Bangladesh in particular, Harmanpreet Singh was at the end of several penalty corners and could not convert his efforts. This is an area he would like to improve on and contribute more to the team's goals. Having said that, Harmanpreet Singh remains an influential player in the lineup and will be key to India’s success. 

Muhammad Umar Bhutta (Pakistan)

Pakistan’s captain Muhammad Umar Bhutta is their most significant player in the lineup. Pakistan failed to find their first goal of the tournament against Japan and Umar will hope to inspire his team to score against India. 

Graham Reid’s men will need to be vigilant of the threat posed by the Pakistani skipper. He could affect the game single-handedly and take the result away from India. The player was part of the Pakistani team that finished third at the 2017 Men’s Asia Cup and is one of the most experienced players in the team. 

India Squad

Krishan Bahadur Pathak (GK), Suraj Karkera (gk), Gurinder Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Mandeep Mor, Harmanpreet Singh, Dipsan Tirkey,  Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh (Captain), Sumit, Rajkumar Pal, Akashdeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gursahibjit Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh.

Pakistan Squad

Amjad Ali (GK), Ali Mubashar, Muhammad Razzaq, Moin Shakeel, Abdul Rana, Ali Ghazanfar, Ali Shan, Mazhar Abbas, Muhammad Yaqoob, Umar Bhutta (Captain), Ammad Butt, Muhammad Hammadudin, Junaid Manzoor, Muhammad Abdullah, Afraz, Ahmed Nadeem, Ajaz Ahmad, Abu Mahmood.

Broadcast

The match will be shown LIVE on the Star Sports network on December 17, 2021. It will be also available to stream LIVE on Hotstar and Jio TV.

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