ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: Head of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) said on Monday that the national side could have made the last four of this month’s Asian Senior Championship only if Army had not withdrawn their players.

Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, chairman of the PVF told journalists that the Army Sports Directorate’s decision of preferring the World Military Games to national interest, had proven costly.

Pakistan finished sixth in the 15-team championship that took place in China where they upset Japan for the first time ever while also scoring victories over Taiwan, UAE and Kazakhstan. The side however lost to Australia in their opening match and were beaten later by China and India.

“Army’s decision to withdraw three of the players meant that we did not have a substitute during the course of the championship,” Chaudhry said.

The PVF had invited a total of 18 players out of which five were from the Army including Bakht Risal, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Jamil, Muhammad Elahi and Muhammad Sakhi.

“Out of the five players Army sent in only Bakht, Zafar and Sakhi to the training camp and said the other two would take part in the Military Games in Italy, and hence they did not report.”

Explaining his point further, Chaudhry said that although he insisted that Army also send Elahi, his efforts proved in vain. Once the team was selected, only two Army spikers Bakht and Zafar made the squad while the coaches felt that Sakhi was not required and therefore he was not chosen.

The Army however responded by pulling out their players, upset that Sakhi had not been selected.

But Chaudhry pointed out that the selection was done in consultation with the coaches on merit. “Our coaches including Ivan Stefanov felt that Sakhi was not required.”

He pointed out that it was fair selection that had enabled Pakistan to spring a surprise against Japan and score victories over three other nations.

At the time of the controversy, the Army Sports Directorate was headed by Brig Arif Mahmood Siddique, who has since been appointed the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). Interestingly, the Military Games that were to be held in September were postponed.

The matter would now be discussed in the executive committee meeting of the PVF so that such a controversy does not occur again, Chaudhry said.

He also gave reasons for Pakistan’s 0-3 defeat to India and said that the boys were exuberant following their upset of Japan. “Also the team were to catch a plane home following the match, because missing that flight would have meant an additional stay of one week and heavy expenses to the federation.”

“The players were under stress as they went into the match. “Besides, India are a strong team and beat the mighty Koreans in the championship.

However, he lamented lack of substitutes and said that because of this the same set of players had to be on court.

The team’s Bulgarian coach Ivan Stefanov, meanwhile praised the performance of his team. “All of them did very well.”