The Netherlands and New Zealand played out a goalless draw to join India and Australia in the semi-finals of the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
In the semi-finals to be played on Friday, India would take on the Netherlands who finished second in pool B while Australia meet New Zealand.
The goalless draw between the Dutch and the Kiwis smacked of a pre-meditated plan to keep out the Pakistanis, who lost to Argentina earlier in the day.
The Pakistani team watched helplessly from the stands the charade that the Kiwis and the Dutch enacted. With each passing minute, their hopes ebbed and the draw pushed Pakistan to third place on goal-difference.
Holland and Pakistan finished with four points apiece while the Kiwis topped the pool with five.
Argentina, the perennial dark horses, overcame Pakistan 2-0 with Juan Saladino scoring both the goals in the 47th and 48th minutes in a game interrupted by heavy showers.
Thus, all eyes were on the Holland-New Zealand game in which both teams dished out mediocre hockey. Towards the close, the teams shed all pretence of a contest.
Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans said he was happy at his team moving to the semi-finals where he expected a "tough match" against India on Friday.
Friday's fixtures (semi-finals, IST): India vs the Netherlands (12.30 pm) and Australia vs New Zealand (2.30 pm).
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