Blue vs Green=red-hot contest

When India and Pakistan face-off at Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, the stakes will be higher than at any similar match in recent times. The reason i...

When India and Pakistan face-off at Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, the stakes will be higher than at any similar match in recent times. The reason is simple: The two countries haven’t met in the final of a major tournament since the 1990 Asian Games finals in Beijing.

They have subsequently seen the balance of power shift gradually from the traditional subcontinental style of play to that espoused by the South Koreans, the new Asian hockey tigers. Though the world watches when India and Pakistan play, thanks to the levels of passion and skill the teams are capable of reaching, it’s not out of context to state that the Koreans have won the last two editions of this tournament, after Pakistan won the first three.

INDIA’S 3D HEROES
Who can win the match for India

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DEVESH CHAUHAN: Mentally, the Indian ’keeper is the toughest player in the team; all players depend on him to stop Sohail Abbas’ dreaded drag-flick. In the Champions Trophy and last Asian Games, Chauhan stood like a rock against Sohail. Can he do it again?

DILIP TIRKEY: The star, though you wouldn’t know of it. The team’s most consistent player, a bad day for him could ruin India’s dream of winning their first Asia Cup. Is also currently team’s PC expert at the moment

DHANRAJ PILLAY: The Lion in Winter will be aiming for a loud roar; at 35, still the player Pakistan fear the most. They remember Pillay’s exhilarating pace in 1995 SAF Games finals and, seven years later, the Champions Trophy in Cologne. There may not be another opportunity for the ageing Pillay to score a point against the old enemy. — MK

Tomorrow, then, is a chance for the two teams to make the most of the spotlight. Despite their rousing win over South Korea, India will be aware of their tendency to fail against Pakistan in crunch ties. In their last two matches, here and in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan were able to keep their nerve in check.

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If Dhanraj Pillay’s team wants to create history, here are some things they will have to ensure:

• It’s expected to be open hockey alright, but Tahir Zaman is a shrewd coach who has introduced European tactics in his team. Pakistan are likely to hold their attack and strike at the right opportunity. The Indians need to keep some aces as secret weapons

• Indians need to close the gap in the midfield and defence as they did against Korea in the second half of the semi-final. It will put pressure on the Pakistan defence, which is quite vulnerable. India won titles in Australia and Hamburg thanks mainly to their tight marking. They need to retain that habit to win the Asia Cup

• If India manages to take an early lead, they need to watch out for the set-pieces that Pakistan has used successfully in their recent clashes: long balls which start from their circle and run into an unmarked forward in front of the Indian goal.

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• Stopping Sohail Abbas’s drag-flick in the PC will not be enough; if the world’s best flicker fails to score from a PC, Pakistan will use him to improvise his drag-push for taking free hits from just outside the circle. It can crumble the Indian defence who should, as much as possible, tackle above their own 25-yard-line. That will also avoid the PC against them.

• India need to use their bench judiciously and properly — it has paid rich dividends in the Asia Cup. Sandeep Michael has emerged as an exciting goalpoacher in addition to the established Gagan Ajit Singh. Also, coach Rajinder Singh needs to show more confidence in the team’s PC expert, Dilip Tirkey — the variation from inexperienced hands can wait to come later.