Pakistan Hockey: NA body looking to resolve the hockey stress
The ongoing stress regarding the fate of senior hockey players of Pakistani team after the Asian Games is intensifying day by day as former Olympians and officials of hockey federation are locked horn and are not ready to drawback their stance. The duo parties
were summoned by the legislators in a bid to settle down the issue in the best interests of hockey, the national game of the country.
Sports Body of National Assembly (NA) of Pakistan finally decided to intervene in the matter and has asked the hockey federation and former star players to resolve the matters by sitting together and pull out the game from fainting condition. The members
of the sports body were of the view that they were disappointed about the team’s performance as its performance were really bad in last two tournaments in the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup.
Chairman NA Standing Committee on Sports, Iqbal Muhammad Ali said, "We not only want to probe the causes for the national team's disappointing performance in the Commonwealth Games, but also try to resolve the conflicts between the federation and Olympians”.
He further said that they were also discontented over the confrontation of hockey federation and legendary stars. The committee surely will try to ascertain the grudges of duo sides and reconcile them together for improvement of the national sport, he said.
The situation became worse when Chief Selector of Pakistan Hockey Team, Hanif Khan uttered that the seniors would be axed from the squad soon after the Asian Games irrespective of their performance in the event. He was of the view that they wanted to rebuild
the squad comprised of young and solid newcomers for London Olympics.
He stated that that they would begin a rebuilding process instantly after the Asian Games to prepare the team for next Olympics concentrating only on the youngsters. The players like Waseem Ahamed, Shakil Abbasi, Salman Akber besides former captain Zeeshan
Ashraf and skipper Rehan Butt will have to retire from the team after the Asian Games regardless of the team’s performance in the event, he elaborated.
The performance of Pakistan Hockey Team is in declining phase as they could not manage to win any major tournament after 1994 World Cup. The team was thrashed in a humiliated way in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and earlier in the World Cup standing
at 6th and last 12th position respectively. The team comprised of senior players including Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, midfield player Wasim Ahmed, Shakeel Abbasi and former skipper Rehan Butt, however the quartet were not saved
the team from abasing defeats, which seems the main reason behind the federation’s stance.
On the other hand, the players and former Olympians including, Islahuddin, Mansoor Ahmed, Akharul Islam, Hasan Sardar, Ayaz Mehmood, Qamar Zia and Shahnaz Sheikh and Shakeel Abbasi were of the view that the federation is incapable and unskilled, which could
not formulate proper strategies for the team.
Strongly opposing the announcement of Chief Selector, legendary striker Shakeel Abbasi said that the removal of senior players from the team would raze the squad and down the morale of the players, adding it would be impossible to train a new squad in less
than two years for next Olympics. The hard striker said, “Still we can perform for some more years and just because we are over 30, it does not mean we should be sacked. It is a culture in the country only as the rest of the world takes trained players
as an important part of the squad”. In reply, the federation has rendered that the Olympians are never bothered to contribute something fruitful to the game and only criticised the federation.
It is pertinent to mention here that the federation recently recalled senior players legendary drag flicker and short corner specialist Sohail Abbas and Salman Akbar for upcoming Asian Games, who were sacked after the bad performance of the team in the World
Cup.
The differences between the former Olympians and the Federation will not leave a positive impact on the team as well as the nation. The senior players would play fearfully in the Asian Games due to the fright of being fired from the team after the event.
The authorities concerned will have to come forward to take all the stake of holders on board in the best interest of the country and as well for the game.
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