KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Despite the absence of the world's top teams at the 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the national squad are still expected to face an uphill task against four other teams competing this year.
In the draw, released today, the national team under interim coaches Tai Beng Hai and Nor Saiful Zaini, take on Pakistan, world number eight, in their opening match on April 5.
Pakistan, winner of the trophy three times before (1999, 2000, 2003) and who finished fourth last year are said to be sending a strong 40-member team which includes four times former Olympians Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmad, Rehan Butt and Salman Albar.
In their second match on April 6, Malaysia, now ranked 15 in the world, take on Egypt who are ranked five places below.
But while the Egyptians are not expected to pose a major threat, the April 8 match against another three-time winner (1985, 1991, 1995) and last year's runner-up, India (ranked 11th) is expected to be a tough one.
The national team complete their fixtures in the tournament which uses the round-robin system due to the reduced participation, against world number seven New Zealand, the highest ranked team in the tournament.
To win the title, Malaysia who have never won the tournament since its inception in 1983, must top the five-team table.
Last year's winner Argentina and hockey powers like five-time winner Australia, two-time winner West Germany, South Korea and Holland turned down invitations citing the world economic showdown forcing the tournament to go on with only five nations, the lowest participation since the tournament's inception in 1983.
The 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh from April 6-12.
-- BERNAMA
In the draw, released today, the national team under interim coaches Tai Beng Hai and Nor Saiful Zaini, take on Pakistan, world number eight, in their opening match on April 5.
Pakistan, winner of the trophy three times before (1999, 2000, 2003) and who finished fourth last year are said to be sending a strong 40-member team which includes four times former Olympians Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmad, Rehan Butt and Salman Albar.
In their second match on April 6, Malaysia, now ranked 15 in the world, take on Egypt who are ranked five places below.
But while the Egyptians are not expected to pose a major threat, the April 8 match against another three-time winner (1985, 1991, 1995) and last year's runner-up, India (ranked 11th) is expected to be a tough one.
The national team complete their fixtures in the tournament which uses the round-robin system due to the reduced participation, against world number seven New Zealand, the highest ranked team in the tournament.
To win the title, Malaysia who have never won the tournament since its inception in 1983, must top the five-team table.
Last year's winner Argentina and hockey powers like five-time winner Australia, two-time winner West Germany, South Korea and Holland turned down invitations citing the world economic showdown forcing the tournament to go on with only five nations, the lowest participation since the tournament's inception in 1983.
The 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh from April 6-12.
-- BERNAMA
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