KARACHI, March 14: Pakistani umpires once again came under heavy fire on Sunday when Malaysia junior hockey coach Sarjit Singh claimed second goal in the fourth game to Pakistan juniors was a wrong decision.
Singh was furious soon after umpire Zulfiqar Haider awarded Pakistan a goal through Mahmood Ali in the 52nd and was seen strongly protesting to tournament director Aslam Khan Niazi.
"It was a rising hit on which players jumped and at the same time ball went into the goal deflecting defender Baljit Singh's stick. It was not a goal. The umpire should have consulted the second umpire before a decision," the coach said.
It was second time in 15 days that a foreign team official raised finger against questionable decisions by Pakistani umpires. Earlier, Dutch junior coach Eric Verboom slammed what he said substandard umpiring in the fourth game of the four-match series.
He had criticized umpire Mohsin Ali's decision of giving Dutch Balder Bomans temporary suspension. Singh said his side had improved and series helped him find grey areas of the team before April's Junior Asia Cup to be staged in Karachi.
"Although at least four of my players were injured during today's game but I am returning home satisfied with team's performance. We leave for home tonight. "We have planned to play a home series against USA senior team as part of build-up for the Cup for which we will arrive here a week before the event," the coach said.
