THE decision of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to sideline Nadeem ND, who was captain of the national team that recently clinched the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, is bound to set an example for the next generation of players in the country. This, indeed, is a step in the right direction as discipline is one of the basic ingredients for building and sustaining a cohesive playing outfit. The manner in which Nadeem had left the country to play abroad was totally unacceptable, especially when he happened to be the captain of the national side.
My hope is that due action would be taken against the other two — Sohail Abbas and Mohammad Waseem — who had also left in similar circumstances. Come to think of it, Nadeem was dropped only because he did make an attempt to attend the trials, if not the camp. Sohail and Waseem escaped punishment because they did not even bother to make an appearance, which in itself ruled out their chances. This by no means can be taken as a punishment. They must face the music whenever they try to return to the national fold. It may be in terms of financial fine or suspension, but justice needs to be done, and I would like to believe that the PHF is aware of its responsibilities in this regard.
If they go unpunished, it will set a wrong precedent. Every player is entitled to make money by playing abroad. An international career is short and always a bit uncertain. So the need to make hey while the sun is still shining is quite understandable. But there are ways of going about it. The players need to take their employers and the PHF into confidence about their moves. When they fail to do so, they naturally cross the line, and must be made to pay for such gross violation.
Besides, when international contracts are signed, a clause is almost always inserted to the effect that players would return to their respective sides whenever they are called on national duty. This is a standard practice that the players in question somehow chose to ignore.
The upside of the crisis is that Pakistan will get to test a few youngsters in its upcoming assignments, which would not have been possible otherwise. The three-nation outing in Australia is bound to offer more than enough exposure to the young side, and their skill and temperament will come under serious scrutiny. The Australians, mind you, will be fielding two sides in the competition, which will give it a somewhat unique touch where a tri-nation event will have four teams.
The appointment of Ahmad Alam as the team captain is also an inspired choice for which the PHF deserves a pat on the back. Even though he had retired from the game a couple of years ago, he remains the best goalkeeper in the country, and a respected figure among his colleagues, because of his sensible and level-headed approach towards the game and also in terms of man-management. Now it is up to Ahmad Alam himself to bring his faculties to work and encourage and motivate his troops to make things happen on the field of play.
THE decision of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to sideline Nadeem ND, who was captain of the national team that recently clinched the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, is bound to set an example for the next generation of players in the country. This, indeed, is a step in the right direction as discipline is one of the basic ingredients for building and sustaining a cohesive playing outfit. The manner in which Nadeem had left the country to play abroad was totally unacceptable, especially when he happened to be the captain of the national side.
