May 9, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 8: Pakistan hockey secretary Brig Musarratullah Khan on Monday confirmed that a change in management of the national team was on cards and a final decision was expected to be made shortly.

Musarrat told Dawn that in the wake of Pakistan's poor showing in the recent World Cup Qualifying Tournament in China, a change had become necessary as this was an important year.

"We have the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the Asian Games coming up, all of which are important events therefore we have to plan accordingly."

But he stressed that in bringing in the new command, an element of continuity will be kept in mind.

"We do not want to make wholesale changes."

Pakistan's fourth place finish in the qualifying tournament they were expected to win has drawn criticism with calls for coach Asif Bajwa and manager Saeed Khan to be axed.

Under Asif Bajwa, the team's performance has not been encouraging and the only feather in his cap as coach was Pakistan's victory in a tournament in Holland last year.

Although Pakistan have managed to qualify for the World Cup in Germany, indications are that either Asif and his deputy Rana Mujhaid will make way for a newman or Saeed could face the axe.

Musarrat said that the team had failed to produce the required results and had been inconsistent.

"If in one event they do well, they tend to fail in the next."