Pakistani media has claimed that the nation's hockey team has lost its identity after losing 2-1 to South Korea in their Asia Cup semi-final in Ipoh, Malaysia.
According to The Express Tribune, the four-time World Cup champions had entered the Asia Cup desperately needing the title to book their place for the 2014 global tournament in The Hague, Netherlands.
Pakistan got off to a good start in the Asian event, winning all their group matches in which they scored 24 goals and conceded just one but looked off-colour in the decisive match as they faced their first major test against South Korea where penalty-corners were in focus, the report said.
Olympian Qamar Zia said that Pakistan was once primarily known for its hockey, but now it has lost that identity, adding that he was shattered because he never thought this day would come.
Another Olympian Samiullah Khan said that it was hear-breaking to witness the nation's hockey at its lowest ebb.
