Former players lambast Greenshirts

Hockey side finishes seventh in HWL Semi-finals but still virtually qualify for World Cup

KARACHI: Former players and experts were not left amused by the performance of Pakistan at the Hockey World League Semi-finals, where they finished seventh and were at the wrong end of several humiliating drubbings.

There was, however, something to cheer about as the Greenshirts managed to virtually qualify for the 2018 World Cup as other results went their way.

Pakistan suffered several embarrassing defeats in the group stages, losing 4-0 to Netherlands, 6-0 to Canada and worst of all 7-1 to arch-rivals India. However, their only win — against lowly Scotland — allowed them to reach the quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth.

In the quarter-finals, they lost 3-1 to Argentina, before once again being thrashed by India in the fifth-place play-off; this time losing 6-1. However, a win in the next game against China allowed them to finish seventh rather than eighth and almost book a place in the 2018 World Cup.

Former Olympian Samiullah pulled no punches and laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for selecting such an inexperienced squad.

“This was a crucial tournament for Pakistan since it was a chance to directly qualify for the World Cup,” he told The Express Tribune. “The PHF though clearly did not take it seriously and risked Pakistan’s place in the World Cup. They have pretty much won a berth but that is still in danger. Had they sent an experienced team then this would not have happened.”

Samiullah did admit that young players need a chance to prove themselves before the World Cup and would have gained a lot from this experience, but he felt this was not the right time to be doing so.

“This isn’t a tournament where you place fresh players into the team,” he said. “The players who have been playing together for a while should have been sent since this team was clearly devoid of any chemistry.”

Former PHF President Akhtar Rasool, meanwhile, felt the young players selected for the side were not up to the mark.

“They haven’t held a proper talent hunt in the country and neither have they provided these players with a proper training camp. How can they just send a team with eight to nine young players who haven’t ever played an international match?” he said.

Former chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui was also not impressed with the result, but did take consolation in the side qualifying for the World Cup.

“Pakistan surely didn’t do well in this tournament but they booked their place in the World Cup and the players also managed to get invaluable experience,” he said. “The young players didn’t do well but they must have learned a lot facing the top teams in the world, especially in the pressure-cooker matches against India.”

Islahuddin feels the players need to up the ante if they are to avoid embarrassing themselves at next year’s World Cup.

“These players have a lot of time before the Asia Cup and the World Cup to improve themselves,” he said. “The PHF needs to provide them with as many international matches as possible.”