April 28, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1428

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KARACHI, April 27: Cracks within the Pakistan hockey squad have started to appear as full-back Zeeshan Ashraf expressed indignation, asking the top officials to strip him of vice-captaincy after Rehan Butt was retained as team captain.

Sources say that although the defender didn’t specifically ask Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to appoint him captain, his dissent clearly indicates that he is not happy at being “ignored” for the captaincy for the Azlan Shah Cup squad announced on Monday.

Zeeshan, who was called up along with Rehan by the PHF president Zafarullah Jamali soon after the announcement of the squad at Hockey Club of Pakistan, didn’t protest openly on Rehan’s appointment as captain but told Jamali that he was not willing to be vice-captain.

It was obviously a message between the lines, rather a subtle way of protest, that he does not feel justice has been done, sources said.

The full-back was told by Jamali in presence of manager-cum-chief coach Islahuddin Siddiqui that since the squad had already been announced at a press conference, it would not be possible to change the decision by naming another player as vice-captain in his place.

“Jamali told Zeeshan if he didn’t want to be the vice-captain, he should have requested the PHF or team officials before the announcement of the team. Jamali clearly said he would not change the decision, so either he accepts it or get kicked out,” sources told Dawn.

According to sources, Zeeshan was also told by the PHF president that he had received quite a few “recommendations” on phone to appoint him as captain.

“However, all these recommendations backfired and Jamali decided to retain Rehan,” sources said.

Admonished and warned by Jamali, Zeeshan left the room after PHF chief asked him and Rehan to maintain discipline and to focus on victory during the May 5-13 event in the Malaysian city of Ipoh.

Sources say the problem is deep rooted and a clash between Zeeshan and Rehan also took place last year during manager-cum-chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh’s brief tenure.

Zeeshan’s indignation is also connected to vice-captain Shakeel Abbasi’s ouster who is believed to be involved in forming groups among the players, sources added. PHF has, however, not officially announced the actual reason of Shakeel’s ouster from the team.

Zeeshan, who is the senior most player in the team in terms of his career, is also believed to be annoyed on Shakeel’s ouster from the squad for the Ipoh event.

The current situation also shows how PHF and team officials — Islah and coach Manzoorul Hassan — have compromised on discipline.

Although Islah always lays emphasise on discipline and physical fitness of the players but it seems team officials have compromised on discipline and physical fitness this time. Especially if one considers Jamali’s statement to media on Monday that players lacked firepower and enthusiasm during the trials and he would rather withdraw the team from the tournament than send a lethargic squad to Ipoh.

Calling up of 48 players instead of the originally planned 35 due to “recommendations” from various quarters also illustrates how team officials, now enjoying ‘paid’ status, are willing to compromise on issues.