Former Olympian Samiullah Khan still considers Rehan Butt as the best striker in the national hockey team
Former Olympian and Pakistan Hockey legend, Samiullah Khan, still regards Rehan Butt as the best striker in the Pakistani national hockey team, as his opinions uprooted with Butt's exclusion from the national side, decided by the PHF.
Also referred to as the ‘Flying Horse’, Samiullah Khan, did not look much convinced over Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) decision of ruling the former national skipper out of the national team.
“He is still the best striker. Ruling him out of mega tournaments is inappropriate at this stage because we are yet to get his replacement on the right wing”, Samiullah Khan stated about the exclusion of the experienced player from the national side.
PHF decided to leave out Rehan Butt from the squad that will be playing in the upcoming Australian tour and the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy hockey tournament, scheduled to take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from December 3 to 11.
“If there is a disciplinary issue against the player, then it is fine but in that case the federation should make it public. If he has been sidelined purely on the grounds of poor form then the federation is making a mistake,” former Olympian, Samiullah
Khan, further added to his comments.
However, Hanif Khan, another former Olympian and the chief selector of the national hockey team, did not agree with Samiullah Khan regarding this controversial issue.
“Rehan’s performance is not what it used to be and the forward line is doing well without him,” chief selector, Hanif Khan, stated in his views about the exclusion of the former skipper from the national squad.
He also stated that the striker can be replaced with some young and fresh guns.
Meanwhile, Rehan Butt, the sidelined veteran considered himself absolutely fit and upbeat.
He stated, while talking to The Express Tribune, that he can still play for national team for two to three years.
The striker also commented that if Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmed can play for Pakistan then he should be a routine option because he thought himself to be fitter as compared to both of them.
Nonetheless, the legend fully back Rehan Butt and opposes the talented skipper's withdrawal from the national hockey squad of Pakistan
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