Khalid questions PHF priorities

ISLAMABAD: One of leading defenders, who helped Pakistan win the 1994 World Cup in Sydney, Khalid Bashir lamented Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) decision to ignore legends of the game who helped the game stand on sound footing in the country.

Talking to The News, Khalid Bashir who scored more than 160 goals for Pakistan in international hockey spoke high of the role played by former greats including Manzoor Junior, Hanif Khan, Khalid Mahmood, Manzoorul Hasan Sohail Abbas and Brig (rtd) Hamidi in shaping up country’s hockey. “Though it is always good thing to encourage and support former legendary hockey players, it was surprising and shocking not to see former players of the caliber of 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Games winning team captain Mazoor Junior, first ever World Cup winning team captain Khalid Mehmood, first ever Olympic team gold medal winning team captain Brig (rtd) Hamidi and some of other legendary players including Hanif Khan, Sohaiol Abbas, Manzoorul Hasan, Kaleemullah and Dr Tariq Aziz name in the list. Majority of the former players included in the six-member Hall of Fame recipients were those who toe federation’s line even if it continues to play with the national team’s fortunes.”

He said that PHF only believed in pick and choice. “They should have started giving the awards first to those veterans of the game who served country’s hockey in sixties and seventies. But those who are running the show in federation are only there to appease their near and dear ones no matter what role they have played in destroying Pakistan hockey. I am privy to the role played by some of recipients in staging coup during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics that ultimately destroyed Pakistan chances of winning medals.”

Khalid Bashir asked PHF to be realistic in their approach if they want to serve the game in real terms. “I even back and support recent visit of veteran team to Pakistan that played two matches with our juniors. But first it is the national team performance that matters most.”

Khalid Bashir reminded the PHF that Pakistan won the 2012 Asian Games gold and beat Germany in 2012 Champions Trophy on their way to win bronze without any team visiting Pakistan at that time. Pakistan also won Champions Trophy silver in 2014, beating hosts India, Holland on their way to final. “Even at that time, no international outfit was ready to tour Pakistan. Still federation at that time succeeded in keeping team’s standard at par with the best in the world.” Former Olympian questioned about recent sudden decline in Pakistan team standard. “Is the federation ready to share with the nation as what happened during the last two years that resulted in sudden decline in national team’s standard. Two years back we were No 6 in the world. Now when the current PHF bosses took over the ranking fell to as low as No 14 and now No 13. There must be a reason behind this,” he said.

Khalid said that he believed that raising team standard and winning medals at international level had never been PHF’s priority in recent past. “These PHF officials are not interested in improving national team standard. They are just there to have a good time while the sun shines and that is what they are doing right now.”