KUALA LUMPUR — Pakistan men’s national hockey head coach Tahir Zaman says his team will not be fazed by Sohail Abbas’s involvement in the Malaysian set-up when the two sides meet in their opening Nations Cup clash at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium this Sunday.
Speaking to Scoop, Zaman dismissed suggestions that his compatriot’s role with the Speedy Tigers gives the hosts any tactical advantage.
Abbas — widely hailed as one of the greatest drag flickers in hockey history — is currently serving as assistant coach under national head coach Sarjit Singh. He joined the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) on a one-year contract, with an option for extension.
A three-time Olympian and FIH Hall of Famer, Abbas holds the world record for the most international goals — an astonishing 348 in just 311 appearances.
“Sohail Abbas is a legend — we respect what he has achieved. But we’ve studied his methods for years. Our coaching staff understands his approach inside out, and I’m confident his techniques won’t be effective against us,” said Zaman.
“I believe we know Malaysia well, especially when playing them on their home turf. Our recent meetings have been tightly contested — games that could have gone either way.
“Malaysia have been training exceptionally well, and with the advantage of home ground, they pose a real challenge to our semi-final hopes. However, we’ve thoroughly analysed their weaknesses.
“We’re aware of their vulnerabilities, but we won’t reveal anything now. We’ll expose those weaknesses during the match. While playing at home may be an advantage for them, we’re here to prove otherwise,” said Zaman when contacted.
Zaman also noted that Malaysia, like other top-tier nations, have evolved in key tactical areas such as penalty corner execution and defensive shape.
“Penalty corners used to be game-changers, but now every team has studied and mastered those techniques. That’s why we’re focusing on execution, not fear.
“Our team is in good spirits. We’ve adapted quickly to the weather and the atmosphere here. We’re scheduled to play a friendly against South Korea tomorrow, and that will be a good final test before we face Malaysia on Sunday.
“We love Malaysia as a nation, but we’re here with one goal — to win. Starting strong in the opening match is crucial to keep our semi-final hopes alive,” Zaman added.
The FIH Hockey Nations Cup will run from June 15 to 21, with eight teams split into two pools for the preliminary rounds.
Pool A features France, Korea, South Africa, and Wales. Pool B includes Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
The top teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals on June 20, with the final and third-place match scheduled for June 21.
The Green Shirts will begin their campaign against hosts Malaysia on June 15, followed by matches against Japan (June 16) and New Zealand (June 18).
The tournament winner will earn promotion to the 2025–26 FIH Pro League season. — June 13, 2025