Abbas’ camp-absence irks Bajwa

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa has warned defender Sohail Abbas of strict action if he does not attend the ongoing training camp. Abbas missed training on Monday without informing any official and is bound by his central contract with the PHF.

“I’ll contact Wapda’s sports department if Abbas doesn’t join the camp today,” Bajwa told The Express Tribune. “He’s our star player but his uninformed absence from the camp is unacceptable because he has signed the central contract that pays him Rs50,000 per month.”

Abbas, who was one of the senior players to be rested from the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, was offered the contract but his absence has irked Bajwa, who added that none of the players from the camp have heard from Abbas. Meanwhile, two other players Muhammad Zubair and Muhammad Tauseeq, who also missed the first day of training with new coach Michel Van den Heuvel, are likely to join the camp in a few days.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2010.