KARACHI: Chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui applauded Pakistan hockey team’s performance against world No 2 Netherlands that paved their way to sneak into Champions Trophy semi-finals in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

“After a dismal start [as the team lost all its three Pool ‘A’ matches], the team clicked where it mattered,” Islah, who captained the Pakistan team that won the inaugural Champions Trophy at Lahore way back in 1978, told Dawn.

Pakistan, he said, was the most inexperienced team competing at the event in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup.

“It’s a dilemma that the nation that has once ruled the world of hockey missed the World Cup,” he said.

Defending the team selection, he said the selectors have picked the best available talent and not ignored any deserving player.

He attributed Pakistan’s failure to take the chances that came their way as the main factor behind losing three games in a row. Pakistan missed at least two to three chances in their defeats to Belgium, England and Australia, while umpire disallowed a goal by Waqas Sharif against the Dutch.

The former Olympian added: “It’s unfortunate that the national team went to India by generating funds which was unheard of in the history of the sport.”

Islah said he understands the nation is eagerly looking forward to see the green-shirts making waves globally but it can only be possible with the financial support of government.

“It’s the need of the hour that the government should dole out sufficient funds into the coffers of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to keep the game going,” he remarked.

The chief selector said that in the absence of jobs and monetary assistance, it would be unwise to expect a player to deliver.

Complimenting Shahnaz Shaikh, he said the national team’s manager-cum-chief coach had said his team would finish among the top four before leaving for India.

“It’s time the team should forget the past defeats and prepare for taking the challenge in semi-final,” he added.

“The PHF has set a four-year plan for raising a strong winning outfit and the players, both seniors as well as juniors, will have to prove their mettle.”

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2014