Sohail Abbas returned to the Pakistan team at the Hero Honda FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after a four-year hiatus. But his presence failed to inspire the team as they went down to India, England, South Africa and Australia and will now be playing for the 9th to 12th spot.
“I don’t have a
magic wand to take the team to the top spot. The team has played well, but we were unlucky against India when two penalty corners struck the goal frame. The team has youngsters and it is difficult to maintain your position when you are rebuilding,” Abbas said on Monday.
He said both India and Pakistan were facing the same problem. “We move up a couple of places but slip down in the next few tournaments, climb up again only to slide down,” said Abbas.
Abbas, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, said he had no plan to retire. “I have three-four years left in me. The Asian Games in the next big event for us. The motivation for me is to help Pakistan regain their ranking and top position,” he said.
With Pakistan slipping from their 6th place finish in 2006, getting back into the top-six again is Abbas’s another aim.