October 22, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 9, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 21: While controversial full-back Sohail Abbas has once again refused to represent Pakistan and half-back Waseem Ahmed was also missing from the national hockey camp on Sunday, team manager Islahuddin Siddiqui avoided to comment on whether the pair would be considered for the Champions Trophy.

Although Islah, despite being a paid manager-cum-chief coach, was “unaware” of Sohail’s whereabouts, it has been confirmed by official sources of full-back’s department that he has decided against joining the ongoing training camp.Zubair Ahmad, the sports in-charge of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), brought an end to suspense about Sohail’s possible comeback – and mystery about his absence from the camp – after saying the defender had recently informed him about his decision.

“Sohail recently contacted me and told that he will not join the Pakistan camp for the Champions Trophy. He is playing league in the Netherlands. We were eager for his return to the national team and want to see him play for Pakistan again, but he has refused for some unknown reasons,” Zubair told Dawn on Sunday.

The SSGC official said the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had indeed invited Sohail by sending an official letter to the department.

“We have received official letter from the PHF and Sohail was included in the list of our invited players,” said the official.

As for Waseem, who was among eight absentees from the camp which started on Sunday at the Hockey Club of Pakistan, the left-half is also playing Dutch league along with Sohail and is unlikely to join the camp.Interestingly, Khalid Mahmood, the vice-president of Wapda Sports Board, was also “unaware” about Waseem’s whereabouts or whether he had been invited by the PHF and has he plans to join the camp.

“I have been out of touch with my office since two days before Eid. I will join office tomorrow (Monday) and only then I can give a clear picture,” said Wapda official.

Both Sohail and Waseem were banned by PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali for refusing to join the national training camp for the Doha Asian Games last December. The undisciplined pair, along with Ghazanfar Ali, Dilawar Hussain and Mohammad Saqlain had preferred lucrative club contracts over national duty.

The PHF, however, took a giant summersault, recalling the undisciplined quartet of Sohail, Waseem, Dilawar and Ghazanfar, but decided against inviting Saqlain. While both the PHF and Islah are light-lipped on the issue, sources said the PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood had taken stance against the temperamental centre-half.Astonishingly, while a common fan knows Soahil and Waseem are playing in Dutch league, Islah was unaware of their whereabouts and was non-committal when asked what would be his course of action if the duo reported after a few days or just days before the camp winds up.

“I won’t say anything about Sohail and Waseem since they have not informed us when they will join the camp. I will take a decision only when they approach either me or the PHF,” came the unsatisfactory response from Islah.

Asked would it not set a bad precedent and promote indiscipline if the pair reported after a week or just few days before departure of the team for Kuala Lumpur for the Champions Trophy, Islah refused to comment.

Islah’s parrying the questions regarding the pair obviously indicated that he wants to keep his options open and is ready to compromise on indiscipline. Interestingly, the manager and the PHF always emphasises on discipline in statements.Islah said he had sent Nasir Ahmad home as the goalkeeper was suffering from typhoid and dengue fever.

“Nasir is suffering from typhoid and dengue fever. He has been advised 10 days rest by doctor just three days ago which means he has to rest seven more days. But he and Ghazanfar will be considered whenever they report as both have informed me,” Islah said but had no clue why Ghazanfar can’t join camp now.

It is interesting that while Islah believes that players who inform about their delayed joining of the camp is ready to consider them, but not willing to discard those who have neither informed him nor the PHF about their plans.Ironically, in an evasive move, PHF secretary Khalid also refused to talk on any issue regarding hockey, saying: “Talk to Islah.”

“How can he (Islah) says he doesn’t know anything? He knows everything. You should talk to him,” Khalid said when told the manager was unaware about several issues.

The paid coach Manzoorul Hassan, who was another notable absentee, was likely to join camp either by Monday or Tuesday, said Islah, adding his department PIA had not released him for the national duty.

Interestingly, full-back Imran Warsi, who has been ruled out for Champions Trophy because of shoulder injury, was also spotted at the camp venue, but Islah refused to see him, saying “when he is just standing and not approaching me, I won’t talk to him.”

Islah had included Imran in the Asia Cup squad in August after the defender assured he had recovered from a nagging injury. But later it was revealed he concealed the facts and went to India after the Chennai event for surgery.