An India versus Pakistan sub-continental showdown on the hockey pitch no longer enjoys the high-brow ratings of yesteryears. Several decades have passed since the encounter used to be the title contest at elite events.
Yet, any Indo-Pak hockey encounter can become a show-stopper, more so when the two teams have unfinished business on their roster.
Having enjoyed a decade of success against the sub-continental arch-rivals, India will go into Wednesday seeking to salvage their World Cup campaign that is tottering after they suffered a 2-4 reversal against England, while Pakistan will be playing for pride after the dejection of being held 3-3 by lowly Wales in the previous preliminary league encounter.
On the result of this encounter will depend the fate of both teams: one advancing to the next rung of round-robin competition and the other being relegated to the also-rans. The winner of this preliminary game will stay in the race for the semi-final berth and the loser will play for minor positions.
After a long interlude the two teams will come face to face in a World Cup fixture. Their recent record underscoring the different paths they have taken. While India have earned successive bronze medals at the Olympic Games, Pakistan have fallen short of earning qualification for two of the last three World Cups.
The most high-profile World Cup showdown between them in recent decades was on the opening day of the 2010 edition in New Delhi where India inflicted a painful drubbing on a team that is among the most successful in the history of the competition.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s team goes into the game eager to erase the frustration of allowing England to hog the spotlight after India led 2-1 at half-time.
The game has become a qualification decider after both teams suffered defeats at the hands of England, who are atop the pool with six points, while India have three from two outings and Pakistan have just secured one from the draw with Wales.
Indian coach Craig Fulton has a full roster of demands from his players, making it clear that the focus was now on putting it across Pakistan, whom India defeated twice in recent months in the FIH Pro League, but the margin of one of those matches was just one goal.
“We have business to do, we need to come out firing and the boys will be motivated for that,” said Fulton, demanding a composure, while Pakistan’s coach Bob Veldhof is trying to keep his young group grounded after just five weeks of preparations together.