THERE is a disconcerting trend emerging in Pakistani sports. Last year it was the cricket captains and now it's the entire hockey squad offering to resign en masse. It appears that quitting is the solution to all of our performance problems.

Ostensibly, the hockey team did not brave the security concerns for a World Cup in India to embarrass itself. Perhaps our current crop of players just does not possess the talent and ability of those of yesteryear. All teams face periods of slump so let us forgive them for their shortcomings and move on.

A second eventuality could be that they lack the funding, expertise, coaching and management that are requisites of a national team. Given the state of indifferent administration and the dearth of funds in our country, it is not an outlandish supposition. Heads have already rolled as a knee-jerk reaction in this regard.

The only valid reason the team could give for resigning is an utter lack of motivation and a distinct absence of pride in representing their country. If either of the above is true, they should be fired before they can resign.

Otherwise, however, the PHF has a responsibility to reject the squad's resignations in view of its potential to set a dangerous precedent of quitting for our national sport contingents and indeed, for the nation as a whole.

UMER MELA
Lahore