KARACHI: As the Pakistan team prepares for the Hockey World League to be held in Johor Bahru from June 29 to July 7, head coach Akhtar Rasool is confident that the players’ fitness will not be a factor in any potential losses in the event.

Ex-Olympians have often cited ‘below-par fitness’ as the reason for the string of failures plaguing the national hockey team. The observation comes after witnessing Pakistan playing well in the first session, but giving way to fatigue in the second-half which costs them victory.

However, Rasool said the concern has been removed to an extent, stating that his coaching panel has worked on the aspect closely and the players have now reached the required rate of fitness.

“I can say the team will be seen in complete rhythm throughout the tournament,” Rasool told The Express Tribune.

“We have been working on the players’ fitness with a plan. We continued with it in the Abbottabad camp and repeated fitness tests of players which have been reassuring.”

The former captain was speaking on the sidelines of the second phase of the team’s training camp that kicked off at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi yesterday.

Apart from the earlier announced probables, five players from the junior team, including Mohammad Tauseeq and Umar Bhutta also joined the camp. The training will continue till June 23, while the final squad will be named a day before the camp’s conclusion.

Hosts Malaysia, Germany, England, and South Korea are the other teams targeting the top three positions to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, the head coach expressed satisfaction over captain Mohammad Imran’s performance, who also replaced the world’s leading goal-scorer Sohail Abbas as drag-flick specialist for penalty-corners.

“Abbas has served the country many times and his services will always be remembered. But Imran is doing a decent job in his absence.”

Waseem suffers injury scare

Seasoned campaigner Waseem Ahmed was the only absentee on the opening day.

According to Rasool, the former captain had a road accident on the way from Abbottabad.

“Unfortunately, Waseem has injured his shoulder. We still have around a couple of weeks until the start of the tournament. We expect that he will be fit before our departure.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.

Although the current head coach of the UAE team shares the general disappointment of the nation after the team lost all its three matches, the former fast-bowler refused to predict the future based on the present scenario.

“The overall performance was heartbreaking but it’s not a panic situation at all,” Aqib – a part of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team – told The Express Tribune. “There is a need for sensible decisions.

“The selectors or the board should not opt for wholesale changes,” added the former pacer when asked whether it was time to start build a team for the World Cup 2015 by introducing new talented faces.

“There should be a realistic approach. The World Cup is far away and the team will have to play important series before that. A massive overhaul won’t be in the team’s interest.”

However, Aqib suggested dropping all-rounder Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and opener Imran Farhat — the three failing miserably with the bat.

“In my opinion, Pakistan can start their repair job by dropping these three and never look back to them again. Similarly, we shouldn’t be concerned with players like Shahid Afridi who were already dropped on the basis of poor performance.

“Ahmed Shehzad is the right player to replace Farhat while Umar Amin is an ideal alternate for Malik. I also suggest that it’s time for the authorities to find a new wicket-keeper to replace Kamran — someone other than Sarfraz Ahmed and Adnan Akmal. I am sure we will find enough options.

“The rest of the team is good. Our bowling – especially the pace attack – was up to the mark. Our batsmen failed to sustain pressure and cope with changes in conditions. Coaches need to work  on these areas.”

Aqib was also against calls to remove head coach Dav Whatmore. “If it was a mistake to appoint Whatmore, it will be a bigger blunder to sack him now. Let him finish his tenure and hear from him if he was free in implementing his plans.”

On the lack of quality back-up players, the former coach said there was an immediate need of giving more exposure to the Pakistan ‘A’ team.

“Organising bilateral series for Pakistan ‘A’ on a regular basis is the only way to get quality players.”

‘Tough decisions need to be made’

On the other hand, former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed had a different view.

“There should be accountability of the coaches and it’s time to act. Our team’s performance was embarrassing and there’s a need for remedial work.

“The tour selection committee didn’t avail resources well. For example, our left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman was not utilised on conditions where similar bowlers like Ravendra Jadeja of India succeeded.

“The entire team management failed to read the conditions. Now it’s time to take some tough decisions for the team’s betterment.”

Salahuddin also felt that Afridi and Younus Khan need to be given a few more chances.

“I feel we needed veterans Afridi and Younus for such a big tournament and it was a mistake not to send them as they have experience to sustain pressure. They should be given more chances in the future.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2013.

Calls for the resignation of the entire team management and selection committee accompanied by demands to overhaul the squad have gained momentum.

However, Zaka Ashraf, suspended as PCB chairman, distanced himself from the team’s pathetic show. The 60-year-old, in response to a query that he was still the PCB chairman when the Pakistan team was preparing for the Champions Trophy, said that the individuals on the field were responsible for their show in the ongoing tournament.

“I have nothing to do with the team’s performance,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “It depends on the individual players’ performance.

“Moreover, I’m restrained by the court and as such I am not involved in such affairs. [But] the court hasn’t given its final ruling yet.”

‘Selectors not responsible’

Despite the poor show, it seems as if no one wants to take responsibility as a selector said there were hardly any flaws in team selection.

“Imran Farhat won his place by performing well in South Africa and in domestic cricket,” said the selector.  “Shoaib Malik’s experience was required in the absence of seasoned campaigners including Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi, who were dropped after demands from the captain.

“Misbah had faith in Malik and we had to accept it because Younus and Afridi struggled in South Africa.”

On Kamran Akmal, he said, “Sadly, there is no better wicket-keeper option. Akmal’s batting credentials are better.”

On Abdul Razzaq’s snub, the selector said the all-rounder did not give any proof of his form and fitness as he stayed away from domestic cricket despite repeated calls for participation.

“The selectors have no obsession in occupying their seats but they are not responsible for the failure.. Even chief selector [Iqbal Qasim] wanted to quit after completing his year in March but he was stopped by the PCB chairman.”

“The team management – captain and coaches should be blamed as their wrong decisions cost the team.”

‘Coaches main culprit’  

Meanwhile, former PCB chief Khalid Mehmood agreed that coaches need to be questioned on the team’s show.

“Selectors did not have many options. What difference could Afridi and Younus make.

“Secondly, nobody applauds the chairman when the team wins. Similarly, the board chief shouldn’t be answerable for the team’s bad performance.

“The coaches are entirely responsible for the failure and they should be questioned for their conduct.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Probables for the national hockey team will conclude their two-week training camp in Abbottabad today. The camp, in which 26 players took part, was set up to prepare players for the upcoming Hockey World League (HWL).  

Pakistan team’s head coach and manager Akhtar Rasool was pleased after targets set for the first phase of the camp were achieved.

“It was a productive first phase of the camp,” Rasool told The Express Tribune. “We worked on various aspects that included fitness and skill enhancing drills. These were the main focus of the first phase. However, the players were also given match practice.”

Meanwhile, Rasool was hopeful regarding the squad’s performance in the upcoming world event.

“All the players have improved their fitness and they are in rhythm. The high altitude has also helped them to gain further strength.

“The presence of a high profile coaching team, which includes Hanif Khan and Tahir Zaman, has proven beneficial, and after the end of the first phase of the camp, I feel optimistic.”

Pakistan will face hosts Malaysia, Germany, England, and South Korea in the HWL that will be played from June 29 to July 7 in Johor Bahru. The event will also serve as qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.

Final squad to be announced next week

The head coach said the second phase of the training camp will start on June 18 and will continue until the team’s departure for Malaysia.

“Also, the final squad is likely to be named on June 18. We’ll prefer fitness and current form irrespective of seniority of players before finalising the team.”

It should be mentioned that the team management recalled five senior players, including Mohammad Waseem and Shakeel Abbasi, who were rested during the Azlan Shah Cup in which the team finished last.

A few players from the Pakistan junior squad, which is currently touring Europe, will also be considered for selection.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Two back-to-back defeats in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy and India’s win over the West Indies sealed Pakistan’s exit yesterday when just a week ago they were being dubbed as the favourites to win.

The exit of the team after successive losses against the West Indies and South Africa is akin to heartbreak for fans back home who were hoping for a maiden title for Pakistan in the last edition of the tournament.

According to former cricketers, the awful results were repercussions of mistakes made by people at the helm of cricket affairs ranging from the top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, selection committee and the team management.

Former coach Mohsin Khan – head coach before Dav Whatmore’s appointment – was saddened with the team’s standing.“It’s very painful to see such results,” Mohsin told The Express Tribune. “I can’t believe it’s the same team which was so successful in the past few years. There is no determination and fighting spirit now.”

Mohsin held the team management responsible for the poor show.

“There should be accountability of the people who removed me from my post despite my remarkable run as a coach due to their vested interest that ultimately resulted in the team’s loss. I will meet the Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif] and will request him to take steps to rescue the game.”

The former chief selector also took a swipe at the current selection committee.

“The team was not balanced. We needed Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi while upcoming players Ahmed Shahzad and Hammad Azam also deserved a place instead of the ones who fail again and again.”

Experienced players must be recalled: Akhtar

Former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar said the players showed lack of maturity that cost the team heavily.

“Honestly, we don’t have any batting talent in the team,” the former speedster told a television channel. We keep relying on Imran Farhat who is showing no signs of progress since over a decade. It’s good to have young talent but we cannot drop experienced players like Younus, Abdul Razzaq and Afridi until we find suitable replacements for them.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Pakistan took another step, albeit a small one, in moving towards reviving international sports in the country after the country received the go-ahead to host the Asian Under-19 Division 3 rugby tournament later this year.

According to Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) President Fawzi Khwaja, the Asian Rugby and Football Union (ARFU) has given the green signal to organise the competition in the country.

The countries scheduled to take part in the event include India, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

“All the countries have given their consent to visit Pakistan,” Khwaja told The Express Tribune. “The tournament would get underway in October with Lahore being the tentative venue.”

Khwaja termed the development positive for rugby as well as for all other sports in the country.

“It has been eight years since we hosted a similar event. The last time was the Asian event in 2005 in which 12 countries participated.

“The ARFU has given the go-ahead after foreign club outfits showed satisfaction following their participation in the Punjab Youth Festival.”

Club teams from various countries including New Zealand participated in the rugby competition at the sporting gala held in Lahore earlier this year.

Rugby coach scouting talent

Khwaja said Pakistan’s new Welsh rugby coach Roger Coombs was currently busy in finding young talent.

“Coombs has been travelling in different cities. He visited Rahim Yar Khan recently in search of talented youngsters.”

Having previously coached teams in Nigeria, Italy and the US, the experienced Welshman was appointed by the PRU in April this year.

“Coombs is focusing more on school, college and university players. The aim is to mobilise the best available players to form a solid pool of national players.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2013.

KARACHI: Inconsistent batting has not just been a problem with the Pakistan men’s team as their female counterparts also share the issue.

The Pakistan women’s team, preparing for the upcoming UK tour, is focusing on its batting that, according to the team management, needs drastic improvement to be competitive at the international level.

Pakistan play two One-Day Internationals (ODI) and as many Twenty20s against England besides an ODI and a couple of Twenty20s against Ireland before the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers begin on July 23.

The team’s training camp is underway in Lahore where the management has arranged various practice games.

“We have planned at least seven matches during the camp,” team manager Ayesha Ashar told The Express Tribune. “It will include Twenty20 and 50-over fixtures besides target matches. The aim is to provide our batters enough match practice.”

Apart from former Test cricketer Basit Ali, who is the team’s batting consultant, the management will also request legendary Javed Miandad and other former Pakistan batsmen for their assistance during the camp, added Ashar.

The team manager added that the team would be looking to improve on its performance at the ICC Women’s World Cup where it finished at the bottom of the table.

“The Cuttack event was a completely different scenario. Our players had never experienced such situations before.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.

On a given day, they can conquer the mightiest and then go down without a fight the next.

But for many, Pakistan have a good chance of winning this ICC Champions Trophy considering the preparations Misbahul Haq’s men got ahead of the eight-nation tournament. While some term the squad inexperienced with the absence of Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul and Younus Khan touted as drawbacks, others say the team combination is a balance of youth and skill that can favour the side.

After being slammed for their below-par show during the South Africa tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the team management gave their best to prepare the team in the run-up to the event.

The One-Day Internationals against Scotland and Ireland were also crucial but their form left a lot to be desired. But a convincing win over South Africa in the warm-up game has raised the nation’s hopes once again.

Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said the team was ready for the event.

“The team is focused on winning the title,” Pakistan manager Naveed Akram Cheema told The Express Tribune from London. “The win against South Africa has set the platform. There will be no easy games and we’ll play every match as the final. Our first challenge is to beat the West Indies in our opening game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2013.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) reportedly dispatched awareness modules to its member units that describe match-fixing and cite examples of various athletes who fell prey to the menace that cost them dearly.

In a letter to all the national federations, the FIH urged to ‘ensure that the fundamental character of hockey is protected’ and stressed the need for education ‘to understand the tactics and approaches of the fixers’.

‘PHF ready to hold anti-corruption lessons’

Although the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is yet to receive any communiqué from the global body, Secretary Asif Bajwa welcomed the idea of spreading awareness among players.

“Hockey has never faced corruption scandals,” Bajwa told The Express Tribune. “The game is clean but still it will be good to hold awareness programmes for players.

“After receiving the FIH advice we may hold anti-corruption seminars and lectures for all our national players. We will be happy to do that.”

Meanwhile, a former Olympian said the country’s hockey authorities should initiate the awareness programmes on their own without waiting for the FIH directive.

“It has become the need of the hour,” said the former player.  “Hockey may have not suffered from any corruption scandals as yet but now priorities might change with the initiation of various new leagues involving too much money.

“There is no harm in taking precautions as our players are regularly playing foreign league events. It will be an intelligent move on the PHF’s behalf if they take steps in this regard.” Over a dozen Pakistan players participated in the Malaysian league recently while several greenshirts are also contracted with the Hockey India League.

Colts lose to Dutch counterparts

Pakistan colts suffered a shaky start to their tour of Europe as they were outclassed by Holland 4-1 in the opening match of the two-match series.

The hosts had a remarkable first-half in which they scored three goals without conceding any.

The greenshirts gave a better performance in the final session but failed to avoid defeat. Mohammad Taufeeq, who struck on the penalty corner, was the scorer for Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2013.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chief selector agreed that several players lack experience, Qasim said that the balanced team combination can earn desirable results by playing up to its potential.

The former cricketer termed captain Misbahul Haq as the team’s mainstay, adding that the 39-year-old’s renewed batting confidence was a good omen for the team.

Misbah is currently experiencing a phenomenal run after struggling in the series against Sri Lanka, Australia and India in which he scored only 289 runs from 11 matches at an average of just over 30.

Since then, the veteran batsman has scored 334 runs from eight matches, including an impressive run in the five-match series in South Africa.

Apart from averaging over 55 in One-Day Internationals in that period, Misbah was also the top-scorer in the domestic Super Eight Twenty20 event, besides finishing amongst the highest run-getters in the President’s Cup.

“An in-form captain is always a good sign for any team,” Qasim told The Express Tribune. “Misbah has been playing well. His current performance is not only beneficial for the team but is also a confidence booster for the younger players.

“The middle-order has a huge responsibility in this event and if Misbah maintains his form it will be a big helping hand. I will suggest him to continue with his natural style of batting which is giving him good results.”

‘Can’t depend on individuals alone’

Despite singling out Misbah as the team’s mainstay, Qasim warned against depending on individual performances in the Champions Trophy.

“We don’t have superstars such as Inzamamul Haq and Wasim Akram in the current lot who have won matches for Pakistan on their own. The team may be balanced but it has many youngsters who do not have sufficient experience. So there is a dire need of a combined effort. Every batsman will have to contribute by chipping in with at least 30 to 35 runs.

“Similarly, every bowler must also play his part by taking a couple of wickets. The team has the potential to do well and if all players contribute, then we would have high chances in the tournament.”

Meanwhile, Qasim was content with the team’s bowling performance during the UK tour so far.

“The bowlers are performing well. The youngsters in the pace attack did well in matches against Ireland.

“I am optimistic they will raise their performance in the Champions Trophy. Besides the fast-bowlers, we also have a formidable spin attack spearheaded by Saeed Ajmal.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.