Mudassir slams PHF for unjust distribution of awards

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Olympian Muddasir Asghar breaks his silence blaming the omission of the former greats from the Hall of Fame awards as a big disservice to the national game.

Talking to The News, Muddasir said he was surprised to see some great names missing from the list that was prepared with unprofessional eye and mind. “Look Pakistan has won three Olympic gold medals. Under Brig (rtd) Hamidi we won the first-ever Olympic gold. Under Dr Tariq Aziz we repeated the feat in Mexico and later in 1984 we won our last Olympic gold under with Manzoor Junior as captain. 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 who set the high standard for Pakistan hockey. It is because of the likes of Hamidi, Tariq Aziz and Khalid Mehmood 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 recipients.”

Muddasir who was the secretary of the federation when Pakistan won their last two major international events-the World Cup and Champions Trophy in 1994 was not ready to buy federations bosses lame excuse that others would also 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 this award. Their services for Pakistan hockey is more than any other player. Such an award for these pioneers of Pakistan hockey would have given them a true reminder of what they have done for the country. I am sorry to say that the PHF has made a big blunder which cannot be revived or altered now.”

Muddasir said that majority of former players who were given awards were those who were there to appease federation bosses. “Majority of the players receiving the awards are PHF officials or backing and supporting all good andbad decisions of the federation.” The former PHF secretary questioned the criteria adopted to pick these players. “Has the PHF formed a committee to decide as which former player deserves the award most. A panel consisting of former players, senior journalists and officials should have been formed to decide on the awards. Sadly that criteria has not been followed and everything was done unprofessionally with a biased mind.”

He said that players like Manzoorul Hasan and Sohail Abbas were also ignored altogether. Muddasir said that instead of cosmetic measures, the PHF bosses should first help team stand 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 time we lost the grip on the game and now even started losing to minnows like Japan.”

The former PHF secretary said why PHF did not take International Hockey Federation (FIH) in confidence while inviting World Veteran XI. “Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did take ICC in confidence while inviting World XI team to Pakistan. PHF should have done the same. Game’s governing body backing and support is must to bring the international hockey back to Pakistan.”

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.”