Pakistan are on course to make hockey history – but not the way they have been in the past. The team with the most number of World Cup titles (1971, 1978, 1982, 1994) might just find itself out of the mega-event next year for the first time since it started in 1971.

After finishing seventh in the recently-concluded World Hockey League (WHL), which served as a qualifier for the World Cup, the Greenshirts must win the Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia later this year to compete against the top teams of the world at The Hague.

It will not be an easy task for Pakistan to emerge as the regional champions. India face a similarly daunting prospect with their World Cup berth also depending on the Asian event. The Greenshirts will play Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan in the group stages while India will vie against South Korea, Bangladesh and Oman in the other group.

Despite showing occasional flashes of brilliance and flair during the WHL, Pakistan failed to perform when it mattered. The final blow was dealt when the Greenshirts were edged out 4-3 in the quarter-final by South Korea after topping their group.

“The luck factor was not with us. Some missed chances and errors during crucial stages cost us badly. We lost the match against South Korea despite taking a double lead," Pakistan captain Mohammad Imran said while talking to The Express Tribune.

“It is a must-win event and we will go all-out for it,” he said. “The opponents will be tough but they certainly are not invincible. We did well against them in the past as well.”

Pakistan coach Akhtar Rasool blamed his team’s poor result in the WHL on poor finishing but said that they will play for nothing less than a win in Ipoh.

“We had a bad outing in Johor Baru (WHL) but we didn’t have the full complement of players then as Waseem Ahmad was injured and Rashid Mahmood was not fully fit.

“They are key players in the team. We hope to have them back fully fit for the Asia Cup as we will go for nothing less than a win,” said Akhtar.