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| December 4, 2001 | Tuesday | Ramazan 18, 1422 |
Manager rules out major changes
RAWALPINDI, Dec 3: Manager of Pakistan hockey team, Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Monday ruled out any major changes in the national squad before the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur in February-March next year.
“I foresee only one or two changes in the team”, the Pakistan hockey manager told newsmen in an informal chat at an Iftar-Dinner. The manger answered a number of questions in the aftermath of Pakistan team’s poor fourth position in the champions trophy at Rotter dam (Holland) last month and on preparations for the coming World Cup.
Brig. Khokhar attributed the team’s lackluster performance at Rotterdam to biting cold weather. “I was expecting a very good performance from my side if the tournament had been held in Lahore, as originally scheduled.”
“We had been practicing in Lahore in temperatures of 30-odd centigrades while there was freezing weather in Holland”, he said. “Cold had its effects on players like Karachi-born spearhead Kashif Jawwad from whom I was expecting higher number of goals than his six”.
He also cited missings for the dismal show. “Still the team fought and fought well. Even the German coach conceded in post- match comments after the game against Pakistan that the team would have lost if there had been five or seven minutes more”.
Khokhar disclosed that the team will compete in a five-nations tournament in Malaysia before the World Cup as part of its hectic preparations for the prestigious event in February-March. The national training camp will be set up in Lahore from December 24, he added.
To a question about the recall of Shehbaz Sr. Brig Khokhar admitted there had been lack of understanding between Shehbaz and other players. “But that was natural given the fact that Shehbaz made a comeback after four years.”—APP
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