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KARACHI, April 6: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) faced embarrassment when Waseem Ahmad and Sohail Abbas, who have announced retirement last December, failed to report despite being invited for the national training camp which started on Wednesday.
Although eight more probables are yet to report, Waseem and Sohail were the notable absentees from the camp for this month?s series against India to raise funds for tusunami victims and May?s Azlan Shah Cup to be hosted by Malaysia.
Interestingly, PHF top officials have been claiming the pair have decide to come out of retirement they announced soon after the Lahore Champions Trophy and are willing to join the Pakistan squad again.
But Waseem has denied showing interest in playing again for Pakistan, saying he wanted to give youngsters a chance and has no intention to return to the field.
?I have no plans to stage a comeback. Like I said earlier, I will be available for important assignments like Champions Trophy and World Cup. I have no intention to play in the friendly series or Azlan Shah Cup. I want to devote more time to my family. I can play only if PHF calls me for bigger events,? Waseem told Dawn from Vehari.
Surprisingly, PHF chief Tariq Kirmani had claimed that Waseem had shown willingness to come out of retirement, while there had been no contact with Sohail.
Waseem, an outstanding left-half, said he had never expressed his willingness to any of the PHF officials that he was ready to return and added he would prefer to stick to his decision rather taking a U-turn.
?I met the president PHF after the national championship in Karachi but never said that I will play again for Pakistan. I will recommend PHF to give youngsters exposure by fielding them in events like the forthcoming series and Azlan Shah Cup. PHF could also field youngsters in the World Cup and mega events if it feels they have potential to deliver,? he remarked.
While Waseem had no doubts about his earlier decision, Sohail was not available for comments, but his absence was clear indication that, like Waseem, he too is not interested in staging a comeback. There seems to be no chance of Sohail having some physical fitness problems since the drag-flick expert was practising penalty corner strikes on Tuesday at the UBL Sports Complex.
?Like me, Sohail has also no intention to play again except in bigger events,? Waseem said quoting Sohail.
The former captain said he was surprised by the statement of the PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan who had insisted that both the players should inform PHF about their decision.
?This is absurd. We were not PHF employees and were not supposed to inform PHF about retirement. Players announce their decision through media which is a worldwide phenomenon.?
However, the team manager Samiullah said he was unaware about Waseem and Sohail?s availability and why they had not reported as yet. ?We are not aware whether Waseem and Sohail will report,? said Sami.
Of 35 probables called up, 25 reported said the manager and added Imran Maqsood, Imran Rasool and Rehan Butt were likely to reach at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday night.
?Ghazanfar Ali, who is in England, has informed that he will be here on April 10, while three more players from Peshawar have not reported yet but are expected soon,? he said.
The group of 25 had training under supervision of coach Asif Bajwa and his assistant Rana Mujahid under lights.
Although eight more probables are yet to report, Waseem and Sohail were the notable absentees from the camp for this month?s series against India to raise funds for tusunami victims and May?s Azlan Shah Cup to be hosted by Malaysia.
Interestingly, PHF top officials have been claiming the pair have decide to come out of retirement they announced soon after the Lahore Champions Trophy and are willing to join the Pakistan squad again.
But Waseem has denied showing interest in playing again for Pakistan, saying he wanted to give youngsters a chance and has no intention to return to the field.
?I have no plans to stage a comeback. Like I said earlier, I will be available for important assignments like Champions Trophy and World Cup. I have no intention to play in the friendly series or Azlan Shah Cup. I want to devote more time to my family. I can play only if PHF calls me for bigger events,? Waseem told Dawn from Vehari.
Surprisingly, PHF chief Tariq Kirmani had claimed that Waseem had shown willingness to come out of retirement, while there had been no contact with Sohail.
Waseem, an outstanding left-half, said he had never expressed his willingness to any of the PHF officials that he was ready to return and added he would prefer to stick to his decision rather taking a U-turn.
?I met the president PHF after the national championship in Karachi but never said that I will play again for Pakistan. I will recommend PHF to give youngsters exposure by fielding them in events like the forthcoming series and Azlan Shah Cup. PHF could also field youngsters in the World Cup and mega events if it feels they have potential to deliver,? he remarked.
While Waseem had no doubts about his earlier decision, Sohail was not available for comments, but his absence was clear indication that, like Waseem, he too is not interested in staging a comeback. There seems to be no chance of Sohail having some physical fitness problems since the drag-flick expert was practising penalty corner strikes on Tuesday at the UBL Sports Complex.
?Like me, Sohail has also no intention to play again except in bigger events,? Waseem said quoting Sohail.
The former captain said he was surprised by the statement of the PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan who had insisted that both the players should inform PHF about their decision.
?This is absurd. We were not PHF employees and were not supposed to inform PHF about retirement. Players announce their decision through media which is a worldwide phenomenon.?
However, the team manager Samiullah said he was unaware about Waseem and Sohail?s availability and why they had not reported as yet. ?We are not aware whether Waseem and Sohail will report,? said Sami.
Of 35 probables called up, 25 reported said the manager and added Imran Maqsood, Imran Rasool and Rehan Butt were likely to reach at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Wednesday night.
?Ghazanfar Ali, who is in England, has informed that he will be here on April 10, while three more players from Peshawar have not reported yet but are expected soon,? he said.
The group of 25 had training under supervision of coach Asif Bajwa and his assistant Rana Mujahid under lights.
