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| August 24, 2002 | Saturday | Jamadi-us-Saani 14, 1423 |
Chances of victory at Champions Trophy slim
LAHORE,Aug 23: Former Olympian Munir Ahmad Dar on Friday claimed that Pakistan chances of winning the upcoming 24th Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Cologne are ‘extremly slim’.
“ Given the team’s mediocre performance at the recent Commonwealth Games where Pakistan were beaten 7-1 by New Zealand in the semifinal,I do not think that the team has any bright chances at Cologne,” he told newsmen at a book launching ceremony.
The former Pakistan captain said the competition at Cologne would be far tougher than it was at Manchester.
“In face of much sterner challenge from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Pakistan has little hope,” he asserted.
He criticised the policies of Pakistan Hockey Federation for inducting old players rather than infusing fresh blood, adding the team need to change entirely its strategy in view of the changed rules.
Dar held Brig.(retd) M.H. Atif,Chairman, FIH Rules Board, responsible for enforcing rules that favour the European teams at the expense of the Asian style of hockey.
The former penalty corner especialist was of the view Pakistan hockey has fallen into a deep abyss from where it was difficult to surface unless the PHF brings about far reaching changes in the playing strategy and organise domestic tournaments on sound lines and with regularity.
“We need to discover lot more players instead of relying on a pool of 20 to 30 players who are mostly past their prime,” he added.
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