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AZLAN SHAH CUP: Time Lady Luck sided Malaysia

COMING GOOD: Hosts looking to upset big names to prove they are still world class

Fitri Saari is showing signs that he will be the next Malaysian player to watch.
Fitri Saari is showing signs that he will be the next Malaysian player to watch.

MALAYSIA'S world ranking does not reflect their true strength, as the unlucky 13th came about after a string of misfortunes and near-misses on the world stage.

Defeats in the Invercargill World Cup Qualifier to New Zealand (2-1) and against Pakistan (2-0) in the Asian Games sealed the senior team's fate.

And it was further compounded when they failed at the Dublin Olympic Qualifier as Malaysia handed the final ticket to South Korea on a 3-2 defeat.

New Zealand advanced to the World Cup, Pakistan to the Olympics and South Korea also to the Olympics -- courtesy of Malaysia's "well known hospitality" on the artificial pitch.

As a result, Malaysia will be stuck at unlucky 13th, as only teams who play in the World Cup, Olympics and Champions Trophy can break into the top-10 ranking.

In the ongoing Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia yet again showed they have the stomach to challenge the best, but it is of no use.

The tournament does not offer International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings as it is an Invitational which has survived 21 editions.

Britain, fourth, are followed by sixth-ranked South Korea, New Zealand (7th), Pakistan (8th), Argentina, (9th) and India (10th) as all of them have qualified for the Olympics and are assured of no lower than 12th after the tournament ends on July 27.

That is why the 1-1 draw against South Korea and the come-from-behind 3-3 draw against Britain should not be taken lightly but as a positive sign that Malaysia are on the rise.

The 3-2 defeat to India on Monday was also riddled with a tale of near-misses as Faizal Saari was on one of his "off" days.

The 20-year-old, who helped Malaysia win the Junior Asia Cup by scoring six goals, has placed more established strikers like Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Marhan Jalil and Hafifi Hafiz in the shade.

And his brother Fitri is also showing signs that he will be the next Malaysian player to watch.
Malaysia still have matches against Pakistan, New Zealand and Argentina with nine points at stake and must continue playing like they did against India.

The unlucky 13th might just turn out to be their lucky number in the Azlan Shah Cup if the three remaining opponents believe too much in rankings.

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