The reaction from South Korea players as the final hooter went off at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium was quite telling. On a sultry Friday evening where the temperature nudged the late 30s, they had tried relentlessly since the 18th minute, when Abdul Shahid had put Pakistan ahead through a neatly constructed goal, to overturn the deficit. Although Korea managed to equalise through Jihun Yang’s penalty stroke in the 53 minute, the draw felt like a defeat for them.
If Koreans cut a sorry figure, the young Pakistan team let out a collective sigh of relief. Almost half of their 20-member squad were born between 2003 and 2006. While most teams are using this as a preparatory tournament for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September, Pakistan’s is a different story.
Once a global powerhouse that looks totally untraceable now, they are utilising the tournament to give junior players exposure before the Junior World Cup later this year. Apart from Shahid, who was the player of the tournament in the Junior Asia Cup, Pakistan drafted in Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Murtaza and Mohammad Khan, who were part of the side that finished with a silver medal in the tournament.
It is all about looking at the future for Pakistan, coach Muhammad Saqlain had pointed out the other day in the press conference. “You have to invest in young boys because that is the only way we can get back,” Saqlain said about the team that has missed out on qualifying for successive Olympic games.
A team for future
“We have seen it with Holland, as to how they invested in youngsters and did well at the World Cup. We want to give our boys good exposure and by playing against the best, they will only improve and will go into the Junior World Cup with confidence,” Saqlain said.
Assistant coach Rehan Butt concurred:. “During our time, Pakistan and Indian players need not be coached… but now, it is totally different. You have to adapt and you have to start the youngsters,” he said.
There are enough reasons for Pakistan to feel encouraged. In the two matches in the tournament so far, the young team has shown moments of brilliance before inexperience cost them at crucial junctures. Apart from the 17-year-old Shahid, who is leading their frontline, they have a pair of prodigies, Muhammad Ammad and Zikriya Hayat, at inside-right and inside-left. With more experience, they can trouble opponents with speed and movement.
Part of the junior team camp before the Junior Asia Cup, the 16-year-old Ammad had failed to make the cut, but was brought to Chennai. And he was handed out a debut. “I had a good camp, but didn’t find a place in the Asia Cup. But I had performed well in domestic tournaments and the coach put a lot of faith in me and brought me here,” says Ammad, who hails from Lahore.
Similarly, on the inside-left, 18-year-old Hayat troubled the Koreans with his pace and swift movement. Like Ammad, he arrived in Chennai without any international caps to his name, but has ended up starting both the games. Before the tournament began, Saqlain had picked Hayat as the one to watch out for. Apart from creative skills, he is known to be reliable when it comes to giving cover for the backline. “After Shahbaz Ahmed, we have struggled to get someone who can control the tempo. During the Junior Asia Cup, Hayat showed what he can do with the side that reached the final,” the coach said.
But it is Shahid that Saqlain feels is ready for the big league. “Did you see how he got into the right positions? If he keeps his head steady and works on his game, he will go a long distance. After a long time we have a world-class striker and it is only apt if we give them the opportunities to grow,” Saqlain said.
In many ways, it feels like Pakistan are at a stage that India were a decade ago, when they had failed to make the Beijing Games and finished rock-bottom at London. While India have been on the road to recovery with Hockey India doing everything it can to regain the lost paradise, Pakistan are still some distance away. Having chosen to invest in youngsters, patience is the need of the hour, something Saqlain believes the team will get. “You need to give them the space and time to grow. We are trying and I hope we will get the necessary support back home,” Saqlain said.
Chennai physio in Pakistan team
With their physio unable to travel to India because of visa issues and personal reasons, Pakistan have roped in Rajakamal, who had worked with Tamil Nadu hockey unit for the tournament. Last month, Rajakamal was part of Nellai Royal Kings team that featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and has previously trained squash players.
Pakistan men’s hockey team captain Bhutta Umar reacts for a penalty corner with teammates against Korea during an Asian Champions Trophy 2023 match at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, in Chennai, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (PTI Photo) 
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