In an exclusive interview, Pakistan’s most capped hockey star, Waseem Ahmed talks to espnstar.com about his team’s failure at the World Cup.

By Rajarshi Gupta

After 324 matches for a mercurial and talented Pakistani side, Waseem Ahmed has little to prove. However, there was not much his team could do to justify his place as perhaps the most consistent mid-fielder in the world.

India's arch-rivals, who finished last in Pool B in the 12th Hockey World Cup, presented a sorry sight to the state of the game in the sub-continent.

Ahmed believes the defence did not do their bit in negating rampant charges by the opposition: "We ended up conceding far too many goals without scoring many. Our defence should have been far more stable than it was.

The forward line did not attack enough and that added pressure on the mid-field and defence."

Ahmed, who had come out of retirement four years back to help his struggling national side would have been pained to see them making so many errors on the field and he did not mince words after the loss to Australia in their last league game.

"We could not change our game when we had to and kept repeating our mistakes. Though the team tried hard, it was all a case of too little too late."

The man, credited with changing the perception of the left-half from a mere defensive to aggressive, counter-attacking position, however, said he would leave India with happy memories.

"We did not do well but were treated very well by the people of India. They were well behaved and our stay here has been a pleasure."

Ahmed felt Indian hockey was on the road to improvement despite the side failing to make it to the last-four.

"The Indians have shown a lot of promise. They were very good against us in the first match and I thought that would have set the tone for the hosts through the tournament but overall, they played good hockey."

This might well have been Ahmed's last tour to India but he can bid farewell to the country knowing his legend will live on, years after he hung up his boots.