France inflict further damage to Pakistan’s pride; Imran steps down

Agencies Published July 6, 2015

Imran followed the footsteps of the national selection committee which also resigned from their posts after Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2016 Games. — Photo courtesy FIH

KARACHI: Two days after their seeing their Olympic dreams go up in smoke, Pakistan failed to restore some pride when they went down 2-1 to France on Sunday to finish a lowly eighth at the Hockey World League Semi-finals in Antwerp.

Pakistan went into the match against France after a 1-0 loss to Ireland on Friday which saw their hopes of finishing fifth and earning a spot at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro come to an end.

And it seemed they hadn’t really recovered from that heartbreak as France took the lead in the 13th minute through Simon Brisac-Martin.

Shahnaz Sheikh’s men looked completely out of sorts for large swathes of the match and the French doubled their advantage in the 30th minute through Hugo Genestet.

Tauseeq Ahmad pulled one back in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late for Pakistan whose captain Mohammad Imran stepped down following their latest defeat.

Imran followed the footsteps of the national selection committee, headed by chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, which also resigned from their posts after Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2016 Games. The coach of Pakistan’s junior team Kamran Ashraf also resigned from his post on Saturday.

There were also unconfirmed reports from Antwerp that head coach and manager, Shahnaz had also tendered his resignation.

In what appeared to be another attempt by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) top officials to salvage the situation, Imran said in a statement that he was given an absolute autonomy in executing his responsibilities by the federation and he has informed the PHF about his decision.

“Players were given all the necessary facilities but they failed to perform,” he said, adding that it is time to allow youngsters to come forward and play their role.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concern at the hockey team’s performance and PHF affairs after Pakistan were beaten by Ireland and squandered their last opportunity to play in the Olympics.

It is for the first time since the 1948 Olympics that Pakistan’s hockey team will not feature in the mega-event.

Pakistan, three-time Olympic gold medallists and four-time World Cup winners in the sport, needed to finish among the top five for getting any chance to qualify for the Olympics.

Pakistan, once a powerhouse in world hockey, also failed to qualify for the World Cup last year for the first time in the history of the event.

The spate of resignations appear to have been triggered by the formation of a five-member inquiry committee by the Prime Minister who has given the committee a week to submit a preliminary report with strong indications that an ad-hoc committee will be appointed to run hockey affairs.

The committee that includes former hockey heavyweights Colonel Mudassar Asghar, Shahbaz Ahmed and Khawaja Junaid and is headed by the secretary sports Ejaz Chaudhary will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2015

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Comments (28) Closed

syed

Jul 06, 2015 08:18am

Lets play Afghanistan or Maccau. Maybe we can play an equalizer.

Recommend 0

Stone khan

Jul 06, 2015 08:31am

When a country is running by incompetent people and the people of the country don't get any interest in their own country. Then what you expect?? Dirt all around, in minds, in hearts, in souls and pockets. We need serious leaders man.

Recommend 0

Jul 06, 2015 08:33am

No need to fret. Cousins India were thrashed by Great Britain as well. Wonder what is next for Indo-Pak hockey.....One is worse than the other :-(

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Canada

Jul 06, 2015 08:41am

At least they have the decency to accept responsibility and step down, even though it wasn't all their fault. Unlike NS and AZ who make false promises, steal money, and let 1000's die and always blame others and are never accountable.

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M. Ahmed

Jul 06, 2015 08:46am

Our hockey team started showing improvement when we hired the services of dutch coach, its time he or some other reputable European or Australian coach is bought back.

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amir

Jul 06, 2015 08:48am

Please get these hockey has-beens out of our hockey camps. They did there duty then, but are now all free loaders......... !

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Sandeep

Jul 06, 2015 08:49am

Although Indian Hockey is not better, but where is the super intelligent Pakistan coach who before India Pakistan game was fooling the people of Pakistan by saying Pakistan team is better than India. Atleast 4th place is better than 8th place. Pakistan should try to compete with world not only with India.

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Salman

Jul 06, 2015 09:02am

Govt is totally responsible for this debacle. They didnt provide funds to PHF in recent past due to which National team couldnt participate in tournaments like Azlan Shah. Govt officials must understand that team's performance will only improve by playing against better teams in international tournaments and that requires continuous inflow of funds...

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Islamabad Calling

Jul 06, 2015 09:12am

Mr NS, you do not need a committee. This was inevitable. You should have taken action when you came to power or at least when the hockey camp was closed in April due to lack of fund. No forensics are required. Simple actions are what is required: 1. Give more resources to grass root organizations. 2. Take actions to promote the game in educational institutions. 3. Fire all people with tainted reputation. 4. Provide resources to hire international coaches and physios. 5. Have more hockey grounds. 6. Start a 'pension scheme' for retired hockey players. ... I can go on, it doesn't take an Einstein for this.

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Last Word

Jul 06, 2015 09:14am

The rout is complete but no need to panic as it is time to rise from the ashes.

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Honey Singh

Jul 06, 2015 09:18am

Same here GB inflict further damage thrashes us 5-1 but some how managed to get 4th spot

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Sunni

Jul 06, 2015 09:28am

There are lots of good player in this team specially the captain.

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Jul 06, 2015 09:32am

Please stop crying about the glorious past-Hockey is not the same as it used to be 50 years ago-Its more strategy and stamina now rather than individual skills -We need a Fresh Start. Though Pakistan finished 8th, margin of defeats was merely 1 goal in all the crucial games-shows that they were not far behind in terms of technique & stamina but lacked mental strength to succeed. Please appreciate the poor lads for their achievements instead of blaming poor management/administration of last 25 years on the 15 players who have guts to represent Pakistan Hockey today. Instead of taking notice and making committees, please DO what is necessary-fix the infrastructure, bring money into hockey and give coverage on TV so youngsters have some motivation to play the game. All major colleges & universities MUST participate in Inter City Hockey Tournaments and all cities/towns need to have one synthetic surface hockey field. Bring in talent from all over Pakistan, not just one location.

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bloggervat

Jul 06, 2015 09:48am

The only fundamental difference between India and Pak, atleast in hockey is that India has the financial muscle to come back. Chief reason is the Hockey India League where the indian players compete with the worlds best and therefore ensure they are the best in Asia atleast (Keep in mind India is the sole representation for Asia in 2016). And also new talents who are very good keep coming. But... For Pak, the talent is there, but it is very raw and NOTHING can be done if you don't work on the talents and try and expect magic in one month or two. World hockey has gone up by many notches that IF there is no continuous improvement, then we have to forget winning prestigious events...

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Shashi

Jul 06, 2015 09:57am

Pakistan still has a strong hockey team. It just a lean patch. People in Pakistan just need to support their players in these times of hopelessness and desperation. Our subcontinent teams still have skill and competence to beat the best in the world. My message to Pakistan hockey team: Well Played guys, better luck next time. Keep trying

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Saeed

Jul 06, 2015 10:04am

Bye bye hockey. Live in the past. The so called super stars of the passed could not do anything. Time has changed national pride is absent and winning spirit is gone.

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Juggernaut

Jul 06, 2015 10:09am

@GK India is on 4th position at least qualify for Rio olympic...hence India can get better with more hard work, it is much better than 8th position and not being qualified for olympic....thats the difference..between two teams.

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Karan

Jul 06, 2015 11:09am

People say India and Pakistan were once powerhouses. That was before the significant changes made in the rules and it was made a game more about strength than about agility and tackle. It will take sometime for India and Pakistan to regain their lost glory. A lot of investment is required in the sport of hockey by the Sports Ministries of the two countries. If our hockey players are provided even half the quality of facilities in terms of gym, training equipment, access to quality supplements, etc., am sure in a few years we will soon be clashing with each other only in the finals- the place we truly belong too. Also we are all very passionate about our country and support our sportsman to the hilt. I am sure Pakistani fans will never give up on their players and will support them so that they come back stronger than ever

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Jul 06, 2015 11:13am

I truly feel sorry for the players - I watched the games and thought they there was no shortage of commitment but at times unlucky to seize the moment. Pakistan team was lacking the usual speed of the forward line but thought they have matured in the defence and noticed some strategies in their attacks too. What was lacking? I think Pakistan team needs more encouragement than anything else at this point. Nation needs to put their confidence in the team rather than blaming them. Sometimes I feel Pakistani players lack self-confidence and play under inferiority complex hence unable to play at their true potential. We need a Imran Khan type of leader (or coach) to bring out the best in the team. I would give the players credit just for their courage to just stand up to teams like Australia & England who have no dearth of funds and infrastructure. The gap has widened over the years as there is more emphasis on technology then ever before, so understand facts before playing the blame game.

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Mangya

Jul 06, 2015 12:25pm

We aren't playing any good either...if that makes you feel slightly better. The way India and Pakistan are playing at the moment, I won't be surprised if Bangladesh comes and defeat us in hockey too.

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Shahzad

Jul 06, 2015 12:35pm

What pride? When corrupts rule the country and dominate every walks of life, these type of humiliation do happens. PHF is full of immoral characterless corrupts, whose job in PHF is to loot PHF and money for themselves and their family (same what most in Pakistan government do). Pakistan pride gets damaged and country's future gets compromised when we elect, appoints and select corrupts in every department of life, than expect that these immoral corrupts would keep pride and future of the country intact.

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Sarah

Jul 06, 2015 12:44pm

Please start digging well and keep jumping along with Coach one by one.Don't ever return back to play hockey for national team.No point in playing game which is too difficult for you.

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Sarah

Jul 06, 2015 12:53pm

@Juggernaut Sorry both India and Pakistan need to start building team from junior.This is not heading in any direction.Soccer nations are playing better hockey than both nations in modern era game.

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Last Word

Jul 06, 2015 01:05pm

@Honey Singh India finished with a respectable fourth position. The first three teams were far superior to India and moreover we had fielded six new players who would have gained a lot from this tournament.

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Ahmed

Jul 06, 2015 03:03pm

I am now 40 and never seen playing Islah, Shenaz and hanif in my life and i always seen these three idiots to be either coach , either selectors.... instead of blaming govt for Hockey decline , i should say these three trica idiots made hockey bad. all of these three families are living in USA and these three budhas have no interest to make pakistan great we should ban them in future

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Karan

Jul 06, 2015 03:12pm

@Sarah The rule changes have made all the difference. But then we too have not adapted to them well. Also the root of all our troubles is corruption. There is no doubt that India and Pakistan have very talented men and women but because of very poor infrastructure, lack of planning, shoddy and questionable selection process (which reeks of nepotism and regionalism), we are where we are. Another problem is that the ones managing most of these sports and games have themselves never played them. They have no idea about the amount of dedication, effort and pain that a person goes through to compete with the best in the world. Hence, they are unable to understand the requirements of the sportsman. Hopefully for Pakistan, the new committee comprising of hockey giants like Shahbaz Ahmed will come up with a way forward

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Asif Jamil

Jul 06, 2015 04:05pm

@AJ absolutely agree! Also PHF should offer annual contracts to talented players so that they can have a decent standard of living and concentrate on improving their game. It is a great shame that the team is being criticised when PHF is starved of funds and the players struggle to make a living. Although the game is not what it was 40 years ago, but still we can be a world class team given proper administration, focus and funding.

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Sam

Jul 06, 2015 07:57pm

Looks like team is mentally beaten. They were not so bad when played against Australia till first 3 quarters. Everything went downhill form there on. Sad to see the game we dominated for so long totally destroyed - thank you politicians and patron in chief.

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