KARACHI, July 21: Pakistan hockey hierarchy on Monday showed the kind of respect they have for national heroes when they forced former captain Mohammad Sarwar to call it a day following the trials.

“Although I think I can and should have played, I am announcing my retirement from international hockey after being asked by the PHF to do so,” the emotional striker told reporters.

PHF made Sarwar’s departure ignominious as the officials first called him up for the training camp and allowed him to appear in the two-day trials and then asked him to go home for good.

However, PHF chief, who praised Sarwar’s contribution to hockey, said it was an honourable way to treat a former skipper. “I think it is a most honourable way for a player to say goodbye. We need younger players and everybody has to call it a day eventually.”

Sarwar was bitter after the treatment meted out to him by the PHF officials and said he did not deserve the harsh treatment given by the PHF and selectors who were after him for reasons best known to them.

“What the PHF has done with me is totally unfair. First they called me and I trained hard for some 20 days. I was the captain for two years and everybody knows my performance.

“If they (selectors and PHF) had decided that I should be axed, then why was I called up. I only appeared in the trials after PHF assured me I would be in the squad. But they planned to humiliate me by axing me in such a way,” a tearful Sarwar said.

Sarwar, who made his debut at 1995 tri-series in Lahore involving Germany and South Korea, said there was a split in the management and the selectors regarding the selection of the squads.

“The PHF secretary (Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan) himself admitted that I was outstanding in last year’s Manchester Commonwealth Games and Cologne Champions Trophy. He had assured me that I would be in the squad.

“But the selectors Akhtar Rasool and Hassan Sardar contended I am too slow and they want to induct some youngsters instead. I think there is a big rift between the management and the selectors,” he said.

Interestingly, while Sarwar was shown the door, aging goalkeeper Ahmad Alam is still under the bar despite quitting in 2001 following pathetic show at Azlan Shah Cup where he conceded 25 goals.

Sarwar said Akhtar and Hassan even threatened PHF they would tender resignations if he was recalled.

The 30-year-old Sarwar who had skipped the Azlan Shah Cup trials early this year citing some domestic problems as the reason, has been under fire from the selectors for quite a long time.

Chief selector Akhtar had earlier stated that Sarwar had not been invited for the Azlan Shah Cup, while Sarwar contradicted Akhtar by claiming he had chosen to stay away from the camp because of some domestic problems.

“At least I should have been told why I have been made target of favouritism. I have been ousted, while Sohail (Abbas) and Waseem (Ahmad) are in despite indiscipline.

“(Mohammad) Asim was not in the camp and has just arrived from Belgium where he had gone to play league. But still he is in the squad.

“Likewise, Ghazanfar played league in England without PHF’s permission and he is in the squad too. Ali Raza is also suffering from ankle injury but still got the selectors’ nod. It is a cruel joke PHF played with me,” Sarwar said.

Sarwar also alleged Rizwan Butt, Zahid Sheikh, Zeeshan Ali and unfit Sameer Hussain did not play the national championship but were called up for the training camp.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that axed full-back Tariq Imran is also likely to call it quits.