India’s politics destroying spirit of sports in subcontinent: Shahnaz Sheikh
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ISLAMABAD: Former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh on Monday lashed out at the Indian Hockey League (IHL) officials for not including Pakistani players in its fourth edition, saying the politics in the neighbouring country is destroying the spirit of sports in the subcontinent.
According to reports, the Indian hockey officials have continued their anti-Pakistan campaign and have not contacted Pakistani hockey players for the IHL, following in the footsteps of its cricket board (BCCI) which has constantly snubbed the Green-shirts in the India Premier League (IPL).
In IHL, players from around the globe take part and their bidding for different franchises will be held on Sept 17 but none of the Pakistani players have been invited in the auction.
Talking to APP, Shahnaz said he cannot understand what is bothering the Indian sports bodies about Pakistani players and why they are feeling so threatened by our cricket and hockey players. “It is time they (Indian sports bodies) put an end to their immature attitude and tell Pakistan what they really want as their mindset is affecting the spirit of sports in the subcontinent,” he said.
Read | No Pakistani players in league without apology: Hockey India
Shahnaz added that during the World Hockey League at Belgium, he had met with the Indian hockey officials and they were very optimistic to include the Pakistani players in their league. “But now they have dumped our players which is disappointing to say the least,” he added.
The former Olympian said all players from Asia are called in for the leagues but not Pakistan which is against the spirit of sports.
“India has always given us a cold shoulder and their recent attitude is in response to their defeat against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy last year,” he said.
“Pakistan should now stop thinking about India and must move forward,” he said, adding that India is not everything and there are many other better teams waiting to play against Pakistan.
Speaking about the internal hockey affairs, Sheikh said the Inter-provincial Coordination Ministry (IPC) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) should grant the deserved prize money to the players for their performance in the Champions Trophy and Asian Games.
He said according to the sports policy the team prize money amounts to rupees one million per player.
“IPC and PSB assured us of cash rewards and I hope we get them soon,” he said.
Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2015
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Comments (69) Closed
Sep 15, 2015 07:24am
Shehnaz Shaikh Zindabad. “Pakistan should now stop thinking about India and must move forward”- Golden words, from the legend himself.
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Sep 15, 2015 07:29am
move on do not depend on India, if you can move on.
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Sep 15, 2015 07:30am
Another story to be swarmed by trolls!
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Sep 15, 2015 07:30am
It is Indian Hockey league so it is up to India, whome to call and not call.
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Sep 15, 2015 07:31am
stop going there..and stop asking them..go play in europe its better pay n better quality..
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Sep 15, 2015 07:39am
Please move on permanently.. Don't complain same thing every now and then..
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Sep 15, 2015 07:40am
sure, start your own league. lets have matches here in Lahore so that our brothers can practice shooting foreign players in day light.
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Sep 15, 2015 07:40am
“India has always given us a cold shoulder and their recent attitude is in response to their defeat against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy last year,” he said.
Great analysis indeed..
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Sep 15, 2015 07:50am
Crocodile tears!!!!!!
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Sep 15, 2015 08:06am
I am just wandering why S. Sheikh so much worried. Look at cricket, Pakistan national team doing so well without playing in India. Start your own league, involve UAE and other Hockey loving countries. There are many sponsors in Pakistan and UAE who can support Hockey; once you become world champion, just stay out of Indian premier league, joining them means you involve in gambling.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:08am
Why squabble on such matters?
U don't invite in your league. Equal.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:08am
This will hopefully open a new chapter for Pakistani sports. It is high time we start our own just like PCB has done.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:10am
They are afraid of your talent!! Let em suck it up.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:20am
@Pixell : ha, ha,,,, you sure have a great sense of humor.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:31am
Forget India. Create your own league with other like minded nations.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:32am
Sure, pls move on. since the incident no apology from Pakistan Hockey federation, just a media statement by coach. Now you remember about India when it's time to play. You should have just sent an official letter and closed it then and there. Why wait for 2 years?
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Sep 15, 2015 08:34am
Shehnaz Shaikh is right. But Pakistan should move on not because India has given us cold shoulder in the past but because India doesn't value much in sports of Hockey. It's been at least 40 years India has achieved anything significant, and chances are good that down 10 years they'll still be the same. Money can't cultivate talent. On the other hand, there are good reasons to be optimistic about Pakistan Hockey, because it's innovative and far more talented historically. Just imagine if India can lose to this shambolic Pakistan side and that too at home, why would you wanna play against India? Playing India will not help Pakistan Hockey improve, rather Pakistani players should play more and more in Europe and PHF should arrange more European and Australian tours.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:41am
Thanks india
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Sep 15, 2015 08:46am
So it's India's choice.......
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Sep 15, 2015 08:54am
How about the Pakistan Hockey board teach their players some courtesy lessons, just in case you win don't go all crazy and mock the crowd. Recent example yesterday the US Open tennis final between Djokovich and Federrer, djokovich got booed a lot by pro Federrer crowd but he kept his calm and even after winning all he displayed through signs was he is the champ. It's about time players in sub continent grew up and act like players and sport lovers rather acting like players on the street.
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Sep 15, 2015 08:54am
I personally feel that India should invite pak players... it shows India in poor light...we should learn to be magnanimous and not act small....when u r a large country which is doing well we need to act like one..and let's keep politics out of sports...
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Sep 15, 2015 09:01am
Someone is destroying hockey in subcontinent and history will find it.
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Sep 15, 2015 09:11am
Pakistan hockey should solve their internal issues first and come out strong. The reality is that they are out of Olympic and world cup. First prove that they what they are worth and then say something. i will say be united , fight and prove that you are still the world class hockey team. Then the whole world will come to you
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Sep 15, 2015 09:12am
Why the fuss ? can't the Pakistan Hockey survive without playing IHL, This comment only shows personal commercial interests of pakistan hockey.
God only helps those who help themselves.
Learn to stand on your own legs
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Sep 15, 2015 09:28am
Make your own league and play, who cares.....learn to NOT ask and be independent.
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Sep 15, 2015 09:36am
@MAX UAE plz remember a friend in need is a friend indeed.
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Sep 15, 2015 09:38am
It's a business decision. Sad, unfortunate, but bitter truth. League owners are just businessmen who don't like to get caught in between volatile political drama and lose their investment (money) on the players from Pakistan.
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Sep 15, 2015 09:54am
Why to call players from Pakistan and take risk? Never know when they will blow themselves in a packed stadium
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Sep 15, 2015 10:04am
@Max you should think about " how to qualify for worldcups and olympics" rather than winning the worldcups ..hahah
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Sep 15, 2015 10:05am
Instead of blaming India, PHF must move and start its own IHL in Dubai
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Sep 15, 2015 10:13am
@natey even european players dying to play in IHL,IPL.....remember KEVIN PETERSON left england cricket team to play in IPL
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Sep 15, 2015 10:28am
@M. Ahamed. Why in Dubai let it be at Pakistan itself so the ordinary people can watch it from the gallaries.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:38am
@amit Yeah. And European Fixers too.
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Sep 15, 2015 11:14am
can you move on your own Mr Shehnaz Sheikh?
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Sep 15, 2015 11:22am
Like PCL start PHL and hold it at neutral home venue in UAE. Give it a try and then think about IHL.
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Sep 15, 2015 11:26am
Self respect demands we stop bemoaning for not being invited by India.
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Sep 15, 2015 11:35am
@pk Will you buy tickets for yr family and spent money to see matches...
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Sep 15, 2015 12:24pm
develop more relationswith China, skip india. The indian brainwashin on Pakistan is reaching new hights every day. so far its been possible to at least have indians as friends despite plitics, I beleive that will also be gone as it continues like this.
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Sep 15, 2015 01:00pm
This is the time for us to forget India completely for all type of sports and look forward with other countries.
Both are not dependent on each other.
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Sep 15, 2015 01:33pm
After what the Pakistani players have done after wining the last Champions Trophy in India. They need some schooling and not hockey. They don't even know how to behave.
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Sep 15, 2015 01:40pm
@NORI
Right analysis...
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Sep 15, 2015 01:41pm
@pk
correct.. this can spoil the whole game
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Sep 15, 2015 01:45pm
@ratan mia.. They can't simple..
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Sep 15, 2015 01:46pm
@pk Lol.. Well said..
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Sep 15, 2015 02:16pm
Winning and losing is part of game why to behave so aggressively in ground as if you won for the 1st time in your life.
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Sep 15, 2015 02:28pm
The historic Asian unity is now officially dead. We will allow our sports to die at the hands of politics and then cry about European teams being better then us.
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Sep 15, 2015 02:42pm
The IPL and IHL are Indian domestic club events. It's up to India whom they hire to play.
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Sep 15, 2015 02:52pm
Please Move on if you have option around.
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Sep 15, 2015 02:53pm
India has a stand and its pretty clear.
Stop terrorism then come and talk to us.
Not a day before that.
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Sep 15, 2015 03:20pm
Mr Sheikh you and rest of your colleagues have already destroyed Pakistan hockey long time ago. Pakistani politics has played a similar role Indian politics in ruining the game. Let's not blame others for our own faults. Let's give the legitimate players a chance to performance stop recruiting family friends and relatives.
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Sep 15, 2015 03:34pm
PAK officials dont want to move on. Why looking at cold shoulders and blaming. India is not crying if you omitted / committed their players. Go on have your own PHL or PPL. who stoping you?
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Sep 15, 2015 03:44pm
Have NO faith in India.
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Sep 15, 2015 03:58pm
@NORI good analysis!!
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Sep 15, 2015 04:16pm
What Pakistani players did was wrong. But we would still like to see those who were not involved in the incident.
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Sep 15, 2015 04:33pm
Its been 60 years Pakistan unable to stop thinking about India.. let's hope for it.
Just as much Pakistan link up Kashmir with everything n stop doing trade and business, how can Pakistan blame India for showing similar reaction??
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Sep 15, 2015 04:55pm
I believe Pakistan should introspect too. Their great player which we respect him should also have taken notice of the obscene acts their players had indulged in before the whole Indian spectators in their match against India in Champion Trophy tournament. No doubt we lost the match which Pakistan won. But that was no way to celebrate by provoking Indian spectators while indulging in obscene acts on the field. We do not want Pakistan players for unsporting acts here.
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Sep 15, 2015 05:02pm
Indian Hockey & Cricket & other sports are improving. India is taking good steps like IPL & HIL which are essentially for improving their performance , which it is achieving. It is wrong on part of Pakistan to say that India is destroying sports. Pakistan should fend for itself. Its a sovereign country & should try to promote its own interest. Why bank on India?? or for that matter on any other country?
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Sep 15, 2015 05:18pm
@DJ good, do it
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Sep 15, 2015 05:21pm
Not again...please move forward.
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Sep 15, 2015 05:22pm
The problem is that India is where the money is. UK is a huge economy but football is the biggest money spinner there. In cricket, India rules the roost. If one remembers, in 2003, the Pakistani Board was facing a financial crisis and was on the verge of a collapse. After India's first tour in almost 14 years, the funds that PCB had generated, not only allowed it to pay back all its debts but PCB was left with a surplus which was in excess of USD 6 million. This is why everyone needs India. However, Indian politicians cannot be blamed. You see Bombay is the financial hub of India. The city still bears the scars of 26/11 and will not allow the rest of the country to make merry with Pakistan till it does not receive justice. Bombay wants to know what Pakistan has done about it ?
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Sep 15, 2015 05:24pm
Where is the promised money - no one will care about India and IHL only if the players are paid for their hard work
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Sep 15, 2015 05:38pm
Stop begging for once. Please move on
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Sep 15, 2015 05:55pm
Indians are forgetting that things don't always remain the same. They will taste their own medicine sooner or later for sure.
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Sep 15, 2015 06:24pm
Consider this as type of economic sanction the intensity of which will only increase as indian economy grows
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Sep 15, 2015 09:05pm
Didn't Indian Hockey Federation offered money to ailing Pakistani hockey few months earlier to help them?
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Sep 16, 2015 02:56am
As Indian I agree I love the fighting spirit of Pakistanis, they do have immense talent pool, with one billion population we never produced one genuine fast bowler.
It is unfortunate these policies are driven by indian Talibans such as shivasena VHP etc. If you allow them to run the show tables will be turned in next 20 years
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Sep 16, 2015 03:20am
Shahnaz Sheikh is 100 percent right.
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Sep 16, 2015 09:21am
Shahnaz Sheikh please explain in the spirit of sportsmanship why did few countries boycott the 1980 Olympics?
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Sep 16, 2015 05:58pm
I agree (though I am an Indian). India is petty and the politicians are stupid. India should be more accommodating and get past problems of the past. A happy neighbour is in India's interest and I do not think India is mature enough to realise that. At times I am so ashamed to be an Indian.
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