KARACHI, Oct 5: The Pakistan hockey administrators took a U-turn on Friday when they called up four banned, undisciplined and ageing players for the forthcoming Champions Trophy while ignoring promising youngsters.

In contrast to its earlier decision, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has invited Waseem Ahmad, Sohail Abbas, Ghazanfar Ali and Dilawar Hussain for the Champions Trophy camp which is to be set up on Oct 19 in Karachi.

The decision is, however, strange since the PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali, had categorically announced last November that group of five, which also included controversial half-back Mohammad Saqlain, would never be invited.

Jamali had taken the stance after the group never paid heed to call ups for Doha Asian Games, preferring to play in leagues abroad to earn more bucks.

“The five players went to play in leagues abroad. They had option to join Pakistan training camp or play in leagues and they chose to play in leagues. Since now they have left us, we will never consider them in future. They will never be in team at least until I am at the helm,” Jamali had told a press conference on Nov 6.

While Saqlain has a history of misconduct, Sohail and Waseem are habitual violators of code of conduct and always preferred monetary gains over national pride. The pair first skipped tour of Australia few years ago and went to play in German league instead.

Then they refused to join the Asian Games camp, opting to play in lucrative foreign leagues instead.

Saqlain was, however, not lucky enough to get to nod. He faced several penalties during his chequered career and three-match suspension by International Hockey Federation (FIH) for hitting Australia’s Victory Craig at Hamburg Masters in 2005, was the latest.

The PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood initially expressed ignorance that four players had been invited, but later confirmed they would be part of the training camp.

“I have some reservations on inclusion of these players but I can’t comment why they have been called. I can tell officially that they are invited,” Khalid told Dawn from Lahore.

As for Saqlain, Khalid said, there were some issues which he refused to discuss, saying “I can’t tell you why Saqlain has not been invited but you can ask this from Islah.”

Islahuddin Siddiqui, the team manager, also refused to disclose the reason saying “there are things which I am not at liberty to discuss.”

Sources, however, said though chief selector Khawaja Zakauddin was hell-bent on including temperamental half-back, Khalid was against his inclusion on the basis of some recommendations from manager Shahnaz Sheikh.

Asked how banned players could be brought into the fold again, the secretary said Jamali’s decision which was no longer valid.

“May be we will qualify for the next Champions Trophy and will secure at least fifth position instead of six by including these players,” was the reply when asked what the PHF would achieve while Pakistan never won any major title in presence of the players.

“I don’t think the step will promote player power,” Khalid said, but refused to give his personal opinion about the inclusion of the players who are believed to be backed by Zakauddin.

Interestingly, selector Samiullah had vehemently stated that five banned players should never be considered, but Khalid expressed ignorance.

Although Islah said players had been included after his consent, he diplomatically parried the question when asked should these players be recalled.

“I have not asked the PHF to include them,” he said, but when asked was he against their recall, he added “it doesn’t mean that.”

Surprisingly, Islah agreed that Pakistan failed to win a major title even in presence of undisciplined quartet.

“I can’t say anything at the moment what we can achieve at the Champions Trophy in presence of these players. But I can say that merely their names in probables list doesn’t mean that they are in the squad. They will be in the squad only on subject to fitness.”

Asked when a reserve centre-forward Inayatullah of the junior squad had been named why the playing spearhead Haseem Khan, also junior team vice-captain, had not been included in probables list, Islah queried the name of the most talented centre-forward of the present lot.

Islah was once again illogical when asked would the comeback of ageing players not derail his much-trumpeted “re-building” process.

“Re-building means we are building the team and we can include anyone to build a formidable squad,” said Islah.

Meanwhile, the PHF has included several unknown names in the probables and apparently didn’t mention their departments to conceal their identities.

Probables: