Pakistan were thrashed 5-2 by India in an inconsequential round-robin match in the Lanco International Super Series nine-a-side hockey tournament in Perth yesterday, according to the Times of India.
The loss meant that Pakistan will go into their third-fourth place play-off match with India today without having registered a single win in the tournament so far. On the turf, the Greenshirts failed to build any momentum right from the start and struggled to contain their rivals who took an early lead when V R Raghunath struck in just the seventh minute.
S V Sunil was the star performer for India, scoring a brace, while Akashdeep Singh and Manpreet Singh chipped in with a goal each. Pakistan, on the other hand, could only manage to score two consolation goals in each half through Shafqat Rasool and Mohammad Rizwan senior.
Meanwhile, hosts and defending champions Australia continued their impressive winning run and demolished England 6-2 in their last round-robin match ahead of the final that will be played between the two sides today.
This is the final tournament before the start of the Champions Trophy, which will be held in Melbourne from December 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2012.