Pakistan Hockey team captain Zeeshan Ashraf deliberately drops out from the national squad
It seems as if a severe controversy has emerged between Pakistan Hockey Team's skipper, Zeeshan Ashraf, and the management of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). According to a media report, Zeeshan Ashraf has been intentionally ousted from the squad and
as well overlooked in the training camp for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Greenshirts under the captainship of Zeeshan Ashraf clinched a gold medal in the 16th Asian Games after 20 years. He was the man who attempted to revive the past glory of the sport in the country.
An official of the PHF revealed before the media that Zeeshan Ashraf showed his availability with the team in the major tournaments. He stated that the former captain have dispatched an email to the management of the federation saying that he would be available
in the major events, adding that youngsters should be given chances in the regional and domestic tournaments.
A local news paper quoting the PHF official said, “A mail from Zeeshan Ashraf was received by the PHF management several days ago as the player informed [in the mail] that he was available for major events and added that youngsters should be given chance
in regional tournaments.”
The official of the federation was of the view that no one in the PHF management wanted to see Zeeshan Ashraf in the squad, who was the real architect in ending the country’s two-decade gold medal dearth in the 16th Asiad held in Chinese city
of Guangzhou. Every member of the management ignored him, he reiterated.
Some experts were of the view that the management of the federation was reluctant to offer much to the senior players, who displayed impressive performances in the last tournament and made the gold medal possible for Pakistan.
Zeeshan Ashraf, who is regularly getting training, avoided commenting on the situation. He was of the view that he would be in the squad when the federation calls him. He stated, “If they (PHF management) need me I will be available for any event. However,
I will rather opt to play in the Champions Trophy and the 2012 Olympic Games,” he added.
No single member in the federation bothered to reply to the email of Zeeshan Ashraf and ask him reasons of the refusal, the official added. He was of the opinion that the presence of Zeeshan Ashraf in the squad is also necessary, as other senior players
including Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi would be part of the team in the Azlan Shah Cup. On the other hand, legendary custodian Salman Akbar could be called at any time, he maintained.
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