May 15, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1428

LAHORE, May 14: Pakistan’s chief hockey selector Khawaja Zakauddin on Monday expressed disappointment over the performance of national team at the Azlan Shah Cup but added he would consider three banned players for future assignments if they proved their physical fitness.

"I will not hesitate to admit the team lacked spark in all departments of the game and there is a need to revamp all areas to build a strong team for the Champions Trophy," he told reporters.

Zaka was named chief selector on the day when Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced the team for the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, where Pakistan finished at a poor sixth position.

"The players selected have talent but they need to improve their form and fitness. The centre-forward has not been scoring for a long time while inside forwards are not playing their due role. Similarly, the performance in the conversion of short-corner is not satisfactory," he said.

He objected over cup organisers for what he said forcing Pakistan to play four matches in a row at Astroturf which, according to him, never happened at any international tournament.

"It is not an excuse but is not the fair decision of the organisers.”

Asked about the fate of three senior players Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and Mohammad Saqlain, Zaka said he introduced Sohail and Saqlain and he had no objection on bringing them back into the national side provided they played some domestic hockey matches to prove their physical fitness.

"Police cup will be held in near future and I will like to see players in the tournament. If Saqlain, Sohail and Waseem like to play domestic hockey they will be considered for the selection," he said.

PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali while announcing the Asian Games squad had categorically said that five players including Saqlain, Saqlain and Waseem would never be considered for any assignment at least till he was president of PHF.

The three places along with Ghazanfar Ali and Dilawar Hussain preferred to play in foreign leagues despite being called up by PHF for Doha Asian Games last year. The five undisciplined players never attended the national training camp despite given a chance by PHF administration.

Zaka said he had prepared a plan to build a strong team for Champions Trophy in Lahore in December. "The plan is with the federation and soon after getting approval I will start the process," he said.

Elaborating the plan, he said six different pools, each comprising 30 players, would be picked. Six different coaches would train their respective pool before matches against each other in different cities to pick best talent.

"I believe the whole exercise will produce eight to ten players for the national team or to be included in back-up pool," he said.

The chief selector said though the task was challenging to raise a strong team for Champions Trophy and the next year’s Olympics, it was not impossible.

"I have clear vision about my task and I believe we will raise a strong team for two assignments," he said.

He said though he was not aware if he was a paid selector, he had always been supporting the idea of having paid selectors, coaches and manager.

"I was called up by the federation and I did not discuss any financial terms about my post," he said.

Asked if he would prefer to select players while sitting a cosy room or by watching the performance of each player in the domestic tournaments, the chief selector said he would prefer to see at least “some part” of the domestic tournaments before selection.