MELBOURNE, Nov 9: He’s the hit man of world hockey and, in four months, the man regarded as hardest player in the game will be in Melbourne for Commonwealth Games hoping to win Pakistan a gold medal.
Mohammed Saqlain has a fierce reputation, and Olympic champion Australia are No. 1 on his hit list.
“I play hard, but within the rules, and I want gold medal in Melbourne,” Saqlain said in an interview published here.
“But I have one warning to Australians - don’t get in my space or there will be trouble.”
Australian star Craig Victory knows too well Saqlain’s tactics following an incident at Hamburg Masters in August, when he copped full brunt of Saqlain’s stick to his mouth.
Victory has resumed training, but faces a huge challenge to force his way back in national squad in time for Commonwealth Games. “The fact I’ll miss Champions Trophy and possibly Melbourne is so bloody frustrating.”
Saqlain, though, continues to play down the incident, boldly declaring Victory had it coming.
“He was too close and in my space and he should accept the blame,” he said. “I play a physical game and I didn’t intentionally go out to nail Craig, who I regard as a great player and a friend.”
Australian goalkeeper Stephen Mowlam said “I would rate him (Saqlain) as one of top five players in the world, but he’s more known for his over-aggressive approach to the game.”
Mowlam rates Pakistan as Australia’s main danger in its quest to add Commonwealth gold to success at Athens Olympics. “They are dangerous and, while they’re rated No. 4 in the world at the moment, we have a genuine respect of them.”
Saqlain says his side can ruin Australia’s dream of home gold. “We have great belief at the moment and will back ourselves against anyone. We have no fear playing Australia in front of their home crowd.”
Saqlain will renew hostilities with Olympic champions in India next month at Champions Trophy.
Champions Trophy will serve as a major indicator of who’ll start favourites in Melbourne.
Australia is also out to qualify for next year’s World Cup when it takes on Fiji and New Zealand next week.
—PPI
