Former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh proposes domestic tournaments akin to T-20 Cricket
Shahnaz Sheikh, the former hockey Olympian, has proposed a domestic hockey tournament on lines of the ‘Super Eight T20 Cricket Championship’ saying that such events would serve the sport in many ways. The T20 Cricket Tournament that concluded in Faisalabad
impressed the former Olympian, who believes it would help in promotion of sport at the grass root level.
Shahnaz Sheikh was part of the Pakistani squad that clinched a number of international titles from early 70s to 80s. Shahnaz had played a vital role in the victories, including World Cup gold medals in 1971 and 1978. Besides that the Greenshirts also won
the Asian Games gold medals in 1970, 1974 and in 1978. In his 68 international caps, he scored 45 times and was considered an outstanding attacker of his era.
The former Olympian, while speaking to the media, said that hockey was not famous at school and college level as compared to cricket. Despite being the national sport of Pakistan, it has not much grounds and facilities across the country, he added.
He stated, “The PHF can learn from the PCB. The international teams are reluctant to visit Pakistan but the board is arranging domestic tournaments, thus creating a sense of competition among youngsters and keeping public interest alive in the game. Unless
they (PHF) do this, the standard of hockey will not improve in the country.”
The seasoned hockey pro was of the opinion that the sport, despite having label of a national-game, has lost its charm among the young generation. The domestic hockey events would be initiatory steps in revival of the sport at a grass root level, he added.
He advised the federation saying that it should convince the federations and concerned bodies of other countries for sending their junior squads to Pakistan that would help in promotion and training of the sport.
Shahnaz also flayed criticism on the federation regarding their tall claims of hockey academies. He explained that the Junior Asia Cup opened up the real picture of the domestic hockey. In his views, the performance of the junior squad in the just-concluded
Asian Cup could not be called up to the mark.
Commenting on the senior names in the national line-up, he opined that eventually the junior players would have to take their places sooner or later, as they were on the verge of their professional careers. The federation would have to develop a proper mechanism
to upgrade the status of the nation sport at the junior level.
Apart from all the criticism, the former star also applauded the performance of the senior squad. They are struggling to get back the lost glory of the sports at an international level. He stated that the Greenshirts are playing against world’s best teams
that would assist them to improve their level ahead of the India-based Champions Trophy in 2011.
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