KARACHI, Oct 20: The roller-coaster careers of controversial Pakistan hockey captain Mohammad Saqlain, penalty corner exponent Sohail Abbas and midfielder Waseem Ahmad virtually ended on Friday when PHF decided against considering them for the Asian Games.

Apart from the trio, midfielder Dilawar Hussain and midfielder Ghazanfar Ali will also not be considered for the Dec 1 to 15 Asian Games in Doha after they skipped the national training camp to play in leagues abroad on lucrative terms.

It was not the first time Sohail and Waseem preferred to play league abroad. The pair were penalised few years ago for skipping an Australian tour to play in German league.

Ironically, Saqlain who is more famous for his rash behaviour on the field rather than his hockey skills, was also invited despite a fierce outburst against coach Shahnaz Shaikh. The midfielder, along with some other senior players, had revolted against Shahnaz, saying it was because of his lack of coaching skills that Pakistan were humiliated at the World Cup.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had set up first phase of the training camp from Oct 1 which concluded on Friday in Islamabad. The second phase starts from Nov 1 in Karachi under team manager-cum-coach Shahnaz Sheikh who failed to join first leg owing to official commitments for PIA in Jeddah.

The five players were among the probables called up for the training camp and were given a choice to either report at the training camp or face the axe. They were even given the option to report a day before the end of first phase of the camp to be considered for selection. The players, however, opted to stay away from national duty, preferring to play in the foreign leagues.

The decision means that the careers of the group of five are possibly over, especially since camp commandant Manzoorul Hassan says that they should never be considered for future assignments because they are spent force.

“All five of them – Saqlain, Sohail, Waseem, Ghazanfar and Dilawar - are out of contention for Asian Games. It means that their careers are over as I sincerely believe that they are spent force. They were not outstanding during the Champions Trophy or the World Cup,” Manzoor said while talking to Dawn from Islamabad.

Pakistan finished fifth at the Madrid Champions Trophy under Asif Bajwa and hardly managed a poor sixth at Monchengladbach World Cup under Shahnaz earlier this year.

Manzoor was, however, unconvincing when asked why the players were called up for the Asian Games in the first place if they were not worthy enough for the national side.

“PHF thought that since they were senior players they should be invited. But considering their age, Asian Games would have been their last event before retirement. But now they should not be considered even if they wish to come back again. The have played their innings. There will be no effect whatsoever on the team because of their absence,” said the former Olympian.

Manzoor said he had already talked to PHF secretary Akhtarul Islam who was also convinced that there would be no room for the five players if they failed to report at the camp.

The camp commandant, who is also national selector, said he had asked PHF and chief selector to send some three to four younger players as replacements for the next phase of training camp.

Manzoor was evasive when asked why he is calling the shots while Shahnaz is due to take over the training camp. “I just asked as a camp commandant to send more players, especially for half-line.”

However, Manzoor’s tone supported reports that Shahnaz might not resume charge because of his official engagements. Interestingly, while Manzoor, who is also a selector, was so vocal about team management issues, he was at a loss when asked which of the potential players should be added to the list of probables.

“It is hard to identify players who could be called. I have asked some of my associates who have played hockey to recommend players for the national camp. Mohammad Jawaid of Pakistan ‘A’ has already joined the camp.”

Striker Shabbir Hussain will also be missing Doha Games as he had regretted that he won’t be able to attend the camp due to domestic problems.