MALAYSIA and Pakistan last met exactly a year ago in Kuantan at the Asian Champions Trophy.
The tournament was played on a round robin format, and Malaysia beat Pakistan 4-2 in the opening match. However, in the semi-finals, the match ended 1-1 and Pakistan won 3-2 on shoot-out.
Back then, Pakistan were fast and formidable, but in Dhaka they look slow in every aspect.
Pakistan hockey coach Farhat Khan picked India, based on their No. 6 ranking, as the tournament favourites, with Malaysia as a dangerous team.
“This is a tough competition among Asian teams with India being the strongest on paper with a world ranking of 6,” Farhat said while assessing the strength of the various teams.
“But there are always teams who can spring a surprise, as Malaysia showed by finishing fourth at the London World League. Therefore, it is important for us to keep focus on our game as we want to win the tournament.”
Pakistan ended seventh in London, but still qualified for the 2018 World Cup.
In the round robin, South Korea are the only team which has yet to qualify for the World Cup and need to win gold to achieve it.
Malaysian chief coach Stephen van Huizen, meanwhile, said every team in the round robin was equally dangerous but warned that South Korea may just be the most dangerous.
“The group results no longer matter as points earned there are not brought forward. And South Korea will be the most dangerous as they will be playing for a World Cup ticket.
“Having said that, my players and I are committed to playing in our first Asia Cup final (in 10 editions). We only have minor injuries, and even though Fitri (Shaari) will not be in midfield, we have others who can take over,” he said.
Fitri rushed home to be with his son, who had been hospitalised with a lung infection, and might return if Malaysia reach the final.