Sohail Abbas must deliver in important matches says Qasim Zia, the President of Pakistan Hockey Federation
Qasim Zia, the President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), confessed that the national team needs the services of the veteran penalty corner specialist, Sohail Abbas, but he also stressed that the world class drag flicker must perform up to his abilities
in the key matches.
“Unfortunately Abbas is not performing in the high-profile matches. It is very important for a player of his caliber to play a leading role,” PHF president Qasim Zia added to his views about the seasoned drag flicker.
Earlier, the world’s leading goal scorer, Sohail Abbas along with goal keeper, Salman Akbar, and the striker, Rehan Butt, had been dropped from the national team.
The decision was taken based on their below average performance in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament played last month in Ordos, China. The green-shirts lost to their arch-rivals, India, on penalty shootouts in the final match.
Dismal penalty corner execution along with disappointing goalkeeping was a major cause of the green-shirts’ defeat. They had seven penalty corners and not even a single strike was delivered.
However, looking into the matter, the PHF decided once again to invite Sohail Abbas and goalkeeper Salman Akbar to the training camp for the Australian tour.
Salman Akbar was unavailable as he has an agreement with one of the Dutch hockey clubs to feature in the Dutch League. However, he will be available to represent the national team in the Men’s FIH Champions Trophy to be played in Auckland, New Zealand, from
December 3 to 11.
While addressing a question regarding the inclusion of the senior players in the national team, the PHF President stated, “Irrespective of their age, if they (players) maintain required level of fitness to compete at the international level they will not
be dropped from the team.”
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