Mudassir slams PHF for ignoring greats

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Mudassir Asghar broke his silence and termed omission of former greats from the Hall of Fame awards as a big disservice to the national sport.

Talking to ‘The News’ on Monday, Olympian Mudassir said he was surprised to see some former great’s names missing from the list that was prepared for the awards. “Look, Pakistan have won three Olympic gold medals. Under Brig (r) Hamidi, we captured the first ever Olympic gold. We repeated the feat in Mexico under Dr Tariq Aziz and later in 1984 we won our last Olympic gold under Manzoor Junior’s captaincy. Surprisingly, none of the three captains were considered for the award.

“Our first ever World Cup title came under the captaincy of Khalid Mehmood. These are the icons that set the high standard for the Pakistan hockey. It is because of the likes of Hamidi, Tariq Aziz and Khalid Mehmood that our hockey has reached the pinnacle in seventies and early eighties. I am shocked and surprised to see these four icons’ names missing from the list of award recipients,” Mudassir said.

Mudassir, who was the PHF secretary when Pakistan won their last two major international events — the World Cup and Champions Trophy in 1994, was not ready to accept federation’s excuse that others would be awarded later.

“The list of players has been finalised with a biased eye and mind. These ageing icons should have been the first to receive these awards. Their services for Pakistan hockey is more than any other player. I am sorry to say that the PHF has made a big blunder which can’t be revived or altered now,” he said.

He said that the players like Manzoorul Hasan and Sohail Abbas were also ignored altogether.Mudassir said that instead of cosmetic measures the PHF bosses should first improve the standard of team on solid footing.

“When your team delivers at international level, you don’t need cosmetic measures. Teams only perform when PHF officials work hard and take decisions professionally. I am a believer of a strong administrator. If administrator takes every step on merit, results come automatically.

“In Pakistan hockey, there is no such thing and that is why in two years we lost the grip on the game and now even started losing to minnows like Japan.”The former PHF secretary said why federation did not take International Hockey Federation (FIH) into confidence while inviting the World XI team.

“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did take ICC into confidence while inviting World XI team to Pakistan. PHF should have done the same. World body’s backing and support is must to bring the international hockey back to Pakistan.”

Mudassir believed that Pakistan also had lost a good opportunity to invite some of the former Indian players. “Had PHF invited the former Indian players, they would have been here. By that way we could have taken first step towards bringing both countries’ sportsmen together.”

The Olympian had his doubts over the future of Pakistan hockey under present set up. “If these officials would be allowed to run the federation the way they have been doing during the last two years, expecting any progress in team’s standard would be unrealistic.”