19 December 2004	Sunday	06 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Dec 18: Ric Charlesworth and Terry Walsh, the two Australian hockey stars, have urged the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to have more clarity in the rules of the game to make the sport safe , exciting and without ambiguity.

"I have been arguing for a long time that we need to reward skill and to have simple rules which could be understood. We need skill, safety and simplicity. We need to have those as guiding lights to the rules," said Charlesworth who was in Pakistan to comment for a TV channel during the Champions Trophy which concluded earlier this month.

Former Australia skipper said when the hit was taken outside the circle, it was too crowded, dangerous and unattractive.

He said the situation during the corners became too dangerous and the skill of the players should be rewarded.

"I recommend that there should be less numbers of players on the field. That would open up more space and there will be more reward for skill. I suggest only nine players instead of 11 with the field of the same size which is in use now.

"At the moment when you defend you allow all players to defend. I would have nine and would not allow couple of them to defend. Then we could have really interesting game because you have to attack," he opined.

Walsh, who came here with The Netherlands squad as coach, was not happy at all with the few umpiring decisions during the Trophy matches.

"All I would say is that FIH needs to have more clarity in the rules. The rules must be clear an easy to understand to avoid questionable decisions at international events," he said.