April 23, 2007	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 05, 1428

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KARACHI, April 22: Two selectors watched the camp trainees sans their chief on Sunday to select Azlan Shah Cup squad, with Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president, saying appointment of chief selector should not be media’s concern.

“We will appoint chief selector and another selector when we like. It is our business to appoint chief selector. This is not media’s problem,” PHF president Zafarullah Jamali told reporters at Hockey Club of Pakistan.

However, Jamali told this scribe to wait when asked was there any particular reason for delaying the appointment of chief selector and the third selector.

“I say that you should wait. Can’t Dawn wait for some time? We will just decide who should be the chief selector and might announce tomorrow or later. I was out of country and went abroad just two, three days after the PHF elections and have just returned today,” he said when reminded that he had announced on April 2 that the chief selector would be appointed before Azlan Shah Cup camp.

The PHF is working without a chief selector since that date when Khalid Mahmood was elected as its secretary, while PHF also has to appoint a third selector to replace Manzoorul Hassan who is now serving as team coach.

Asked about the appointment of chief selector, Khalid didn’t consider it an important matter, saying when president, secretary, selectors and team officials were present, it was not that imperative to have a chief selector.

“It is not a big deal. If president and secretary and other officials are here then what is the urgency for having a chief selector. The PHF president is the main person. He has all the powers. But since he has returned from abroad, we will now announce the chief selector,” Khalid told Dawn.

The secretary, however, didn’t explain when, according to him, the chief selector was not needed in presence of so many other PHF officials, then why PHF would appoint one later.

While PHF claims to be working on professional lines by hiring paid officials, taking such an important matter casually speaks volume of unprofessional approach.

Jamali, however, didn’t compromise on the physical fitness of the players and rightly took a firm stand when asked would PHF be considering discarded centre-forward Kashif Jawwad.

“Kashif met me and informed that he is willing to play. But frankly speaking, considering his physique at the moment, I do not feel he is fit enough to play for the national side. He is as heavy as I am in this age,” PHF chief firmly said.

Meanwhile, selectors Samiullah and Abdul Rashid watched the trainees along with Jamali, Khalid, manager-cum-chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, and Manzoor.

Sami once visited the camp set up since April 9, while Rashid, who has just returned from the US, saw the trainees for the first time in action. PHF announces the squad on Monday for the May 5-13 event in Ipoh, Malaysia.