Pakistan fall in final of AVC Nations Cup for second successive time

Pakistan on Tuesday night finished as runners-up when they were downed by Bahrain 3-1 in the final of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup in Manama.

Pakistan went onto the court without their key player Murad Khan Junior who had sustained ankle injury in the third set against Qatar in the semi-finals. The Green Shirts labored hard to make a solid start by winning the first set 25-23.

Pakistan at one stage were trailing 14-8 but they recovered well to seal victory in the first set.

However, hosts Bahrain, who have developed well mainly due to their strong league, fought back strongly and went on to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 to seal a fantastic title win.

This is the second successive time that Pakistan finished second in the event. The Green Shirts had also ended as runners-up in the previous edition last year at Isa Town in Bahrain when they had lost to Qatar 3-0 in the final.

“Our key player Murad Khan Junior had got injured but we have still a few weak areas,” Pakistan Volleyball Federation’s (PVF) chairman Mohammad Yaqoob told Nukta.

“Our setting is not of great quality and our libero also is not that good. If reception is improved and setting is good then we have a good attack and block. There are things which we need to improve. We have to raise our level and it’s a continuous progress,” Yaqoob said.

“We have good material at the moment but some changes are required particularly in setting and in libero. You may have seen we recovered in the first set and won it eventually to make a good start. And then we were leading 5-2 but could not keep the same momentum,” he said.

“Yes, it’s okay we are No2 but we have to move forward, we have to be patient and the government has to be patient. The progress is gradual and nothing is revolutionary. We have Under-19 and Under-16 batches and I am happy that we have quality material at Under-16 level,” he said.

Meanwhile, PVF Director Technical and former Pakistan captain Naseer Ahmed said that it was unbelievable that Pakistan failed to continue the same momentum which they had gained by winning the first set.

“My personal opinion is that the boys lacked the required physical condition. Although we did not play final so badly but I would say that in the last two sets the team’s condition was so bad,” Naseer told this correspondent.

“Yes, Murad Wazir’s absence due to fitness issues was a big set-back which Pakistan faced before the final and it broke the tempo of the team as Murad had played outstanding game against Qatar. We had Fahad Raza but he had also come after injury and his confidence level also was not of that quality as he was under pressure,” said Naseer, who has a decade-long professional leagues experience.

He lauded Bahrain for the way they played.

“When Bahrain defeated Korea in the semi-final, I feared that it would be tough for Pakistan also as Korea and Pakistan are the same quality teams while Bahrain is better than us. Bahrain’s players were physically too good and their skills level was also fine. They were seen in top rhythm,” Naseer said.

Pakistan had made a solid start to the event when they defeated Philippines 3-1 and Chinese Taipei 3-2 in their group games to finish at the summit.

In the quarter-finals, the Green Shirts defeated Indonesia 3-1 to set semi-finals date with strong Qatar and where Pakistan also prevailed 3-0 to qualify for the final.