March 12, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 27, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LAHORE, March 11: Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary and manager of the team termed the performance of the Pakistan team in the 10th World Cup Hockey Tournament in Malaysia as satisfactory.

The team after taking fifth position in the 16-team event returned on Monday.

The PHF secretary Brig. Mussaratullah Khan said that the team won six of the nine matches it played. Except a pool match against Argentina in which Pakistan unexpectedly were beaten 1-2, the team played well in the tournament.

The secretary added that the team was a victim of poor umpiring against Germany and Holland.

He said that PHF tabled a third umpire proposal in the Asian Hockey Federation meeting which was supported by other countries.

While replying to a question, the PHF secretary said that it was pre-mature to hint about any change in the team’s management.

Manager Khalid Sajjad Khokhar said that Pakistan faced Germany with 10-13 competition. Pakistan’s defender Tariq Imran had been given marching orders by the umpires whose major decisions were in favour of the Germans, he alleged.

While against Holland, he alleged that the umpires unjustly awarded a penalty-stroke and short-corner each against Pakistan and both were converted into the goals.

He urged that a third umpire, like cricket, was essential to clear the game from such controversial decisions.