‘Over-30s ban to harm Pakistan hockey’
Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) rule of not allowing anyone over 30 to take part in any national championships has irked former coaches and senior players.
Anyone wanting to make it to the national squad needs to play domestic events and, according to some players, the rule has been implemented to phase out senior players from the national squad. While the PHF terms this a move to bring in more youngsters, players like Mohammad Saqlain, Muddassar Ali Khan, and Imran Khan have seen their careers finishing courtesy the rule, while next in line could be stars like Shakeel Abbasi, Rehan Butt and Sohail Abbas.
“Name one country where you deprive the deserving in this way,” Saqlain told The Express Tribune. “Tahir Zaman and Dhanraj Pillay played for their national teams until they were 40. The loss will ultimately hurt Pakistan hockey.”
Meanwhile, former national coach Naveed Alam blamed members of the PHF for enforcing the rule without taking the board into confidence.
“This is the decision of a few individuals who want their preferred players to be selected,” he said. “Seniors run club hockey. This rule has destroyed the structure of hockey in Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2011.
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This is step backwards and though I appreciate that the idea is to expose younger players to competitive hockey , it will have a negative affect in the sense you may have talent youngsters lacking the experience ,but with the presence of the senior experienced players , these youngers can be given directions on the pitch how to cope .Image , Australia playing without Jamie Dywer .In a nut shell , like all teams , juniors learn from the exprience the seniors pass down.
Very gud analysis
if we want to save our national game.. we have to stand up against such foul authorities of PHF... the best players of team are sitting out with out a livelihood because of this rule...
New EXPERIMENT damageing the NATIONAL GAME.
crazy internal issue... you need a mix of seniors and juniors...
Stupid rule!