KARACHI, Sept 29: Humiliation against arch-rivals India at Asia Cup final triggered a fresh wave of criticism on Monday as Olympians cited Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) “satisfaction” over previous disasters as the reason.

Anwar Ahmad Khan and Shahnaz Sheikh took a swipe at team management which they felt failed to utilise the players in the final helping the neighbours win 4-2.

And it was not only the bench officials for whom the hockey greats expressed disappointment, they also lashed out at veteran goalkeeper Ahmad Alam for conceding last two goals which they thought was a result of his complacency.

Pakistan hockey has never been like it is for the last three years as team has given back-to-back record-breaking, worst-ever performances.

First they lost to minnows New Zealand 7-2 at last year’s Commonwealth Games semifinal, then returned without any medal from Busan Asian Games for the first time in history.

The team were then thrashed 7-4 by India at Amstelveen Champions Trophy — their biggest-ever margin victory against Pakistan. Defeat in Kuala Lumpur has now forced Pakistan to go through ignominy of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.

“There is no doubt the whole defence collapsed in the last 10 minutes and there were no attacks. But the most amazing and unfortunate was Ahmad’s performance who conceded the third goal from the top of the circle. I can’t understand why he did not even move while he should have when the fourth was scored,” Anwar said.

The great centre-half said it seemed last two goals came as the goalkeeper was not even able to watch the ball. “I don’t know what kind of number one goalie Ahmad is who can’t stop a ball coming from the top of the D.”

“I think celebrations after winning merely bronze medals has also played a great role in the defeat. Players are being given huge cash prizes after just winning bronze medals. It has only infused complacency into the players and nothing else.

“I only consider Olympic Games, World Cup and Asian Games as big events. Winning a bronze at Commonwealth Games. Champions Trophy and then celebrating it with full force is mockery of the game,” he remarked.

Anwar expressed surprize as to why coach Tahir Zaman failed to prepare a strategy against the Indians despite being a International Hockey Federation (FIH) grade-I coach.

“I would blame this man (Tahir). What he was doing at the bench when the defence and forward-line had completely collapsed. What is use of the coaches courses he has attended so far,” he asked

According to Anwar, the team has been plagued by lack of physical fitness which always resulted in a total collapse in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Shahnaz, an admirer of Ahmad, finally agreed that the goalkeeper had been bothered by age factor which was evident from his performance in the dying minutes of the game.

“Age is a big factor which is causing trouble for Ahmad. Apart from Ahmad and (Mohammad) Nadeem, all the Pakistani players were young as compared to Indians who even had 38-year-old like Dhillon and Dhanraj Pillay.

“The team officials turned the tournament-winning team into a match-winning team. The performance was a repeat of Amstelveen Champions Trophy. The coach had claimed he had rectified the shortcomings. But I don’t know what the team officials did during the 35-day training camp,” he said.