Doha: Top-ranked Pakistan is one of the favourites to win the Asian Champions Trophy hockey championship which begins from December 20 in Qatar, says Michael Nobbs, Australian coach of the Indian hockey team.
Speaking to journalists at Doha International Airport Nobbs said Pakistan team is a more experienced side compared to India.
“Look, Pakistan is clearly the favourites for this tournament. Both teams are playing after coming straight from a tough tournament. But Pakistan has some great players like Shakeel Abbasi and Waseem Ahmed, between them they have around 600 games. We have Sardar (Singh) who has figured in 150 matches,” said the 58-year-old.
Indian team which arrived in Qatar yesterday for the six nation championship was earlier part of the Champions Trophy action in Australia which concluded last week.
The eight-time Olympic champions lost to Pakistan 3-2 in the third place play-off to finish fourth.
The Nobbs coached side thus missed a chance to claim only its second Champions Trophy medal and the first since 1982.
Hosts Australia won the Champions Trophy.
The Green Shirts, winners of the world title for a record four times, thanks to their bronze medal in Australia have leapt from the ninth place to fifth in the latest rankings released by FIH.
Pakistan enters the tournament as the top-ranked team and will clash with defending champions India on December 24.
India defeated Pakistan in the last edition of the Asian Champions Trophy held in China.
Nobbs, who took over as coach of the team in 2011 said the Indian selectors decided against tinkering with the team as they have future on their minds.
“Well the selectors have decided to look at young players as they are the future. It doesn’t mean that the senior players will be missing out completely. The young boys did very well in Australia,” said Nobbs.
The Aussie said it was not about the youngsters getting used to his German style of play which forced the selectors to stick to the same squad which did duty in Australia.
“It is not about young players adapting better to my style of training. I think after the Olympics we looked at the German team. They have good standards at World Hockey and so we took positives from their play and put them in our style of play. We still have our attacking style of play but we have tightened up in the defense a bit more looking at the way the Germany’s play,” explained Nobbs.
Nobbs said Hockey India is trying to create a pool of players and the performance in Australia has been encouraging
“We are trying to build up the base of hockey. And we have made some conscious effort to try and make sure that we have 20-30 players or more whom we can call on anytime. We will also try and make sure all are provided opportunities and then, try and pick the best for the major tournaments.”
Nobbs was not certain if veteran player Ignace Tirkey was willing to make a return to the team.
“I’m not sure if Ignace wants to comeback. He just told me after the Olympics I just want to go and see my baby. He has given everything to Indian hockey. It’s like he has to make the decision on his own whether to continue or no,” Nobbs said about the 31-year-old.The Peninsula
