Thoughts in Tangles

There was once an era when Pakistan was at the center of an amazing strategic exchange in 1978 Argentina, a year when the sports worlds of football and hockey came together in a tale of unmatched sportsmanship. In March and April, as Argentina hosted the hockey and football World Cups, the Pakistani squad, coached by Abdul Waheed Khan and captained by the unyielding Islahuddin, stunned the world with their performance. They captivated the globe with their offensive prowess and broke records. The Green-shirts went down in history as the first side to win the World Cup without dropping a single match. Their unparalleled goal differential of 31 is a reflection of their absolute dominance on the field; they scored 35 goals and allowed only four. In addition to the numbers, the captivating manner in which Pakistan demolished formidable European enemies struck a chord with people all across the world. It was Waheed Khan, who revealed Pakistan's attacking strategy—a tactical master...