KARACHI, Nov 14: Former captain Atif Bashir Thursday bid farewell to international hockey after remaining out of action for eight months due to a collarbone injury.
“The injury is causing too much problem and is a psychological hindrance. It is better to say goodbye and make room for youngsters rather than stick to the team,” Atif told Dawn.
The prolific right-in first broke his collarbone during the Amstelveen Champions Trophy last November and then suffered a compound fracture while representing country at World Cup earlier in February-March in Kuala Lumpur.
Atif, who earned 127 caps in his eight-year career and scored 67 goals, called for incentives for the players to attract youth which he said were reluctant to indulge in hockey owing to lack of opportunities.
“It is time either professionalism be introduced in hockey or regular jobs be provided. Things have changed now and players need security. They can’t perform unless they have peace of mind,” he suggested.
Atif, who made his international debut at Berlin Champions Trophy in 1995, believed the reservoir of talent and youth was drying up fast because of no activity at club, school and college levels.
He felt frequent changes in the team management would serve no purpose, but strongly supported the idea people at the helm of affairs should have infused young blood after the World Cup debacle where team finished fifth.
“Youngsters should have been given an opportunity after the World Cup. We could have a better side before Athens 2004 Olympics. We would have lost in between due to lack of experience, but it would have paid in the future,” he said.
Atif, 31, who played two World Cups, five Champions Trophy editions, 1998 Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and 2000 Sydney Olympics, strongly recommended to rely on youngsters and few experienced players.
“We still have time. We should prepare for the Athens Games without relying too much on the seniors. We have two Champions Trophy tournaments and some series before the mega event.
“The budding youngsters can certainly be groomed for the Games and next World Cup. Pakistan Whites, having juniors could be fielded in less important events, while full-fledged squad in the major contests ,” he opined.
Atif, a doctor by profession, said, though he had departed from international hockey, he would continue representing his departmental team — PIA.
Our Islamabad correspondent adds: The secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Brig Musarratullah Khan was tight-lipped Thursday following his meeting with Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan the night before in which important decisions are said to have been made.
Dawn has learnt that former Olympian Hassan Sardar is likely to be given a role in selection matters and in the think tank that the federation is said to have formed. The national team will have a new coach and manager, whose names are to be revealed by Gen Aziz, the PHF chief at a news conference in Rawalpindi Friday. The selection committee is also to be changed.
Changes are on the card after Pakistan’s pathetic showing in recent tournaments, the latest being the Asian Games in Busan where the team finished a poor fourth.
Tahir Zaman, the coach and his deputy Asif Bajwa were in charge of the squad since last May but were unable to deliver as their side could win just a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester where they received a 7-1 semifinal drubbing at the hands of babes New Zealand.
Again in the Champions Trophy in the German city of Cologne, Tahir’s boys had to be content with just a bronze and the destruction was completed at the Asian Games, Pakistan failing to win a medal for the first time ever.
