Hockey: Rehan Butt handed a lifeline

Former captain will be part of Champions Trophy squad, says PHF.

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Rehan Butt’s career has been handed a lifeline after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) decided to recall him for this year’s Champions Trophy that takes place in New Zealand from December 3.

Butt, 31, was dropped from the squad after the tour of Europe on disciplinary grounds and missed out on the Asian Champions Trophy as well as the International Super Hockey Series.

According to a PHF official, however, Butt will be recalled to the squad after the team returns and undergoes a training camp for the Champions Trophy. The news was welcomed by the former captain who confirmed his fitness and willingness to represent Pakistan once again.

“I am ready for the comeback and am working really hard on my fitness after being dropped earlier this year,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “It has been a huge honour to represent Pakistan and I want to play international hockey for another two to three years.”

Butt had earlier refused to announce his retirement despite the snub and was one of eight Pakistan players to have signed up for the World Hockey Series to be played in India from December 15. He has represented Pakistan in the bronze-winning Champions Trophy campaigns from 2002 to 2004 and also took part in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups as well as the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Pakistan’s chief selector Hanif Khan, following the tour of Europe, justified Butt’s omission by saying that the forward line was performing well without him.

“Butt’s performance is not what it used to be and we have youngsters doing well,” he said. “Therefore, we need to be happy that we have backup good enough to replace him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2011.