March 27, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1428

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KARACHI, March 26: Pakistan hockey captain Rehan Butt on Monday admitted that two-month-long Indian Premier Hockey League has left him fatigued and that he will not participate in the league in future if the duration is not curtailed.

“The (Indian) league was indeed very hectic. The two-month activity has really made a negative impact as I now feel stale and very tired. I have now decided that I will play only if I am offered to play for a month, just the way European players do,” said the forward while talking to Dawn in the port city where he is representing his department Wapda at the ongoing National Championship.

Rehan said although he was accompanied by his family in India, such strenuous and lengthy activity was creating psychological problems for the players.

“My wife was there with me but I feel the players who were not accompanied by their families must have faced psychological problems as well as homesickness. Two months away from home was definitely too much,” said Rehan, who represented Bangalore Lions at PHL.

Rehan feels it would be better if the juniors are sent to play in the league rather than the senior players if the organisers are keen to see them at the premier event.

“I myself talked to the organisers for junior team players Kashif and my younger brother Imran, but they declined. They don’t care much about the Europeans, but when it comes to Pakistan they want famous players to play there,” said the captain.

In a recently submitted report to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Olympian Hanif Khan, who toured India as one of the touring managers, had recommended one-month rest to the 11 senior team players who featured in the Indian league.

Hanif said that players had been isolated, mentally disturbed and physically stale owing to the hectic activity. The group of 11 had also been demoralised since they were criticised by their Indian league team officials for their below-par performances.

The former Pakistan captain believes while two-month activity has caused psychological problems for the players, they are also likely to suffer from burn-out.

For Hanif, fielding players for such a long activity is unfair as they are required to play the National Championship for their respective departments before attending the Azlan Shah Cup training camp next month.

Although Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who represented Orissa Steelers, didn’t agree with Rehan, he complained that the gap between matches played in Chennai was quite “boring.”

“I will not say that league affected players psychological or it caused homesickness, but huge gap between matches was surely boring and had its affect. At times there was an 18-day gap between matches that we played in Chennai. I strongly feel we should rest but we are now playing the National Championship and will then straight away join the national camp which is quite demanding,” said the lanky goalkeeper.

Salman, however, threw his weight behind fielding Pakistan junior players in the league instead of seniors to give them more exposure.

“If that’s what league organisers are looking for then it is a good idea. But at the moment I believe the organisers want Pakistan’s leading players in PHL, not unknown youngsters.”