KARACHI, Dec 5: History seems to be repeating itself as two probables who were

not allowed to play abroad

were missing on the opening day of the senior hockey training camp on Friday.

Rana Asif and Mudassir

Jr missed the first day of the training as they are with Lahore-based Stars Club which participated in Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament played in New Delhi from

Nov 29.

Pakistan seniors and juniors play Malaysia in the triangular series which starts from

Dec 9 at Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) where work of laying the new surface is in progress.

According to reports, apart from Rana and Mudassir, PTCL’s Salman Akbar and Aqeel Khan had not been allowed by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to play in India to avoid injuries before the training camp.

Skipper Mohammad Nadeem, Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad had been involved in a similar controversy when they went to play in German league skipping the Australian tour earlier this year. The trio were refused permission by PHF to play in Germany.

Nadeem was axed for the tour as penalty, while Sohail and Waseem escaped punishment and were allowed to take part in August’s Champions Trophy after a Rs100,000 fine.

Since Sohail and Waseem belonged to Wapda, the department had dragged the then manager Shahnaz Sheikh into the controversy, alleging that he instigated the pair to play abroad.

Shahnaz denied the charges and was later exonerated by a PHF inquiry committee, but stepped down, saying he could no longer continue his job after the issue. Shahnaz has now decided to drag Wapda into court for defaming him.

Interestingly, Rana Asif and Mudassir also belong to Wapda.

Assistant coach Tahir Zaman said Rana Asif and Mudassir were likely to report on Saturday as they had gone to India along with Stars Club to play in India.

“Rana and Mudassir are expected to report tomorrow. Both had gone to India. But I have no knowledge that they have not been allowed to go abroad,” coach said and adding goalkeeper Ahmad Alam, who could not report because of his uncle’s death, was expected on Saturday.

“Amir Saleem will not be joining the camp as PHF has received a medical certificate from him as he is physically unfit,” he said.

Tahir said since there was problem with the turf at

DHA Stadium seniors were expected to have a comprehensive session at UBL Sports Complex.

“The pitch was hard at DHA Stadium. The officials at the stadium watered the turf quite late as they were not informed on time.

Slow surface at UBL Sports Complex is another reason to have practice there as the new one at HCP will also be heavy,” he said.

However, seniors will have a new plan when new coach Roelant Oltmans takes over the charge from Dec 8.

Meanwhile, Hassan Sardar, acting manager of the juniors, said 43 probables trained at UBL Sports Complex.

“PHF has called up some three or four more players, although it had announced 40 names,” he said.

He said since there was problem related to water at DHA Stadium, the seniors would also train at UBL Sports Complex from tomorrow.