Hockey: Abbasi expresses desire to play at Olympics

Strike­r hopes PHF commit­tee will unders­tand his versio­n.

KARACHI: Seasoned striker Shakeel Abbasi has expressed his desire to represent Pakistan at this year’s London Olympics after his participation in the mega event fell in jeopardy following his participation in the unsanctioned World Series Hockey (WSH) in India.  

While Abbasi was the favourite to lead the Greenshirts in London, the experienced player skipped the training camp last month to join the multi-million dollar league despite strict warnings from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in light of the World Hockey Federaion (FIH) rules.

The PHF did not include Abbasi among the probables for the upcoming tri-nation series in Lahore and next month’s Azlan Shah Cup, referring the matter to its disciplinary committee which will hear the defected players’ case.

However, Abbasi was keeping his fingers crossed on his participation in the Olympics.

“I want to represent Pakistan in Olympics,” said Abbasi. “Playing for Pakistan has always been my priority as I rejected many offers of foreign leagues in the past in the team’s interest.

“I took the opportunity because there was no clash of national assignments with the WSH.”

He added that he will appear before the disciplinary committee to explain his version.  “I hope I get clearance after they hear what I have to say.”

Abbasi, who represented Delhi Wizard, impressed with his performance in the Indian event but failed to spur his side into the league’s semi-final.

Rehan Butt is the other Pakistan player who defected to the unauthorised league after being included in the preliminary squad for the Olympics. Other national players who featured in the WSH, including former captains Zeeshan Ashraf and Waseem Ahmed, were snubbed from the list of probables.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2012.