KARACHI, Dec 21: Former Pakistan hockey greats have demanded change of guards after continued failure of national team at the international level. Hanif Khan termed Pakistan's bronze medal eyewash , holding PHF officials responsible for team's inconsistent, erratic performance during Lahore's six-nation tournament which concluded earlier this month.

"PHF has changed so many team officials, selection committee members. But I think now it's time PHF president Gen Aziz Khan should get rid of the present management which has been mishandling hockey affairs for the past four years. And the result is total disaster," he said.

The former captain particularly blamed PHF secretary Mussarrat Ullah Khan for not introducing development programme at junior level which, he said, had caused dearth of talent. "There is no domestic structure. There are no Under-15 and Under-17 squads, while Under-21 squad has over-aged players.

Some five or six Under-21 players are in senior squad who cannot play more than three years. Ironically, failures like Asif Bajwa has been promoted as assistant senior coach after pathetic performance in Junior Asia Cup. Who is responsible for all this?"

Hanif said while PHF's kitty had been swelling with millions of rupees the secretary was busy spending precious money on obliging his opponents or to buy favours from all and sundry. "Had PHF spent this money on hockey rather than buying favours, we would have 500 players instead of 20 odd players," he said.

The former striker said it seemed that key players Mohammad Waseem and Sohail Abbas announced retirement because of some tiff with the PHF officials and added their decision was surprising as they could have played for a few more years.

He alleged that the pair announced retirement after they were not allowed to play league abroad. "(Roelant) Oltmans was not a well-wisher of Pakistan hockey. He took all our secrets to his home.

It was Oltmans who lured Waseem and Sohail to play for his club in the Netherlands. I must say Pakistan team minus Sohail could not even win against Bangladesh. And this is all because of PHF's incompetence which appointed Oltmans," he opined.

Saleem Nazim said PHF needed a new leadership since the sport had achieved nothing but an unbridled, unprecedented downfall during the past four years. "Musarrat Ullah being the secretary is responsible for the sorry state of hockey affairs. It is a one-man show. Since he is doing everything he likes with the blessing of PHF president, both the officials should be removed for the betterment of hockey.

"The secretary has been blaming Oltmans for the defeat but who is responsible for the humiliations during the past four years. We lost two tournaments under Oltmans. But does the secretary has the answer to losses at 12 tournaments under Tahir Zaman," he said.

He held PHF responsible for delay in laying the synthetic turf at Lahore's National Hockey Stadium which robbed the national team of home ground advantage that cost the green shirts heavily - a fact admitted by Musarrat before the Champions Trophy.

"If Australian officials did not come to lay the turf because of domestic problems, why PHF waited for the last moment to install the turf. The brand new surface hampered Sohail's performance or he would have surely scored 12 goals instead of six," he said.

Rasheedul Hassan said there was no room for more lame excuses by the PHF as team had nothing to lose anymore. "We have suffered ignominious defeats at two Olympics, World Cup, Asian Games, Champions Trophy tournaments and Commonwealth Games.

This Champions Trophy in Lahore was the last chance for PHF. But all we could get was bronze. PHF officials should realise and leave before being booted out. It's too much. We can't afford more humiliations."

Hanif, Saleem and Rasheed demanded Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, patron-in chief of PHF, hold an inquiry into the abysmal slump of Pakistan hockey during past four years.