January 7, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, Jan 6: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has adopted double standards for inviting probables as undisciplined players are being encouraged at the expense of deserving ones.

Coach Shahnaz Sheikh emphatically says he would prefer performance and discipline in selecting players for future assignments.

However, if that is the criteria, the selection of hopefuls is strange as deserving players have not been invited for national training camp, while those involved in indiscipline got PHF and Shahnaz’s nod.

For instance, midfielder Mohammad Saqlain, who had been involved in a number of incidents of misconduct is among the trainees, while young and promising striker Haider Hussain has been overlooked.

Saqlain was booted out by the then manager, Islahuddin Siddiqi, during the camp for Olympic qualifiers in 2000 for indiscipline.

Shahnaz, however, says he would not tolerate indiscipline, but failed to give a satisfactory reply when asked why Haider was not called up while a player like Saqlain is in, despite below-par performances and his poor disciplinary record.

“Haider is out for a long time. He last played in 2001 for the national team. It is difficult for him to play now,” he said.

Shahnaz’s answer was illogical since quite a few others have been invited despite remaining out of the national squad for years. Asif Ahmad and Mohammad Anis last represented the country four and two years ago respectively, Amir Saleem has been out of touch with national camps for one year, while Asim Chohan has been receiving call-ups despite suffering from niggling knee injury for the last one year.

Meanwhile, Shahnaz said he had selected a group of some 12 players from Whites and Juniors as possible future replacements for the senior squad.

The coach said some five to six players from Whites and an equal number of youngsters from Juniors had been spotted during the three-team domestic league which concluded recently.

The league, involving senior, whites and junior sides, was played to form three squads for forthcoming international assignments.

“I have a pool of some 12 players in my mind which will serve as reserve for the senior squad. But it does not mean there will be changes for the upcoming event”, Shahnaz said.

However at the same time, the coach made it clear it would be performance only which would enable any player to make room for himself in the final squad or he would be replaced by newly-discovered talent.

The former striker, however, refused to divulge the names of the 12 players he has selected.

Shahnaz will be facing his first test after taking charge when Pakistan compete in the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur from March 20 to 30.

According to the activity calendar announced by the PHF Pakistan is also scheduled to host Spain for a Test series next month. The series, which is tentative, is unlikely to be played considering the security concerns expressed by the European outfits in the past.