Pakistan’s warm-up match against France postponed

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan national hockey team was forced to postpone its opening warm-up fixture against France in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, after a logistical hiccup disrupted the original match schedule. The delay in the French team’s arrival has not only impacted the first match but also cast doubt over the second scheduled warm-up against South Africa.

The Green Shirts landed in Malaysia on Sunday and wasted no time settling in. By Monday, they were already hard at work, conducting two intensive training sessions on the newly laid international-standard Blue Turf at the iconic National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

“We were all set for our first warm-up game against France, but their late arrival made it impossible to proceed as planned,” explained Tahir Zaman, the former Olympian and current FIH High Performance Coach now attached to the Pakistan team. “They simply couldn’t make it in time, and the postponement was inevitable.”

Looking ahead, Pakistan’s second warm-up match, originally scheduled for June 11 against South Africa, also hangs in the balance. “South Africa is expected to arrive on the same day, so the chances of that match going ahead are quite slim,” Tahir admitted.

Efforts are underway to ensure the team gets valuable match practice before the tournament kicks off. “We’re actively working to reschedule the match against France for June 12,” Tahir confirmed.

“In addition, we’ve locked in a confirmed warm-up against Korea on June 13, which will be crucial for our preparation.” Pakistan and New Zealand were among the first teams to arrive in Malaysia, though the Kiwis are not yet at full strength. “New Zealand is still awaiting a few of their key players who are finishing commitments in the European leagues,” said Tahir. “They declined a proposed warm-up match with us due to their incomplete squad.”

Despite the setbacks, the Pakistan team is making the most of the facilities on offer. “Training on this new Blue Turf is a great opportunity,” said Tahir with optimism. “It’s a state-of-the-art surface used in top-tier international events-unlike anything currently available in Pakistan.”

The players underwent two grueling training sessions on Monday under humid and hot conditions typical of Kuala Lumpur at this time of year. Tahir believes that the week-long acclimatization and training camp will be vital in preparing the team for the challenges ahead.

Pakistan will open their campaign in the FIH Nations Cup against host nation Malaysia on June 15, a match Tahir described as “crucial” for setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. “This opening game is of strategic importance. A strong start will give us the momentum and confidence for the remaining pool matches.”

Meanwhile, the Malaysian team is also in formidable form, having recently returned from high-intensity preparatory tours in Australia and South Korea. With the clock ticking down to the Nations Cup, the Pakistan squad is determined to overcome early disruptions and make a strong statement on the international stage.