Imran, who remained Pakistan’s regular captain in 2011, was one of the senior players besides Waseem Ahmed and goal-keeper Salman Akbar to be sidelined for the camp that starts next week in Lahore to prepare players for the mega event. The trio’s hopes of participating in the Olympics were also dashed as the PHF stated that no additions will be made to the list.
Chief selector Hanif Khan said the players were dropped on the basis of poor performance in recent international and domestic tournaments including the Champions Trophy and the National Hockey Championship. But Imran felt there were other reasons for his snub.
“I should’ve been the first choice if the national event was the criterion,” Imran told The Express Tribune. “I led my team [Army] to the semi-finals and my performance was also good. The PHF must give me genuine reasons, which is my right as I’ve served Pakistan for years.”
‘I rejected WHS offer for Pakistan’
Imran added that he rejected an offer to play in the lucrative but unsanctioned World Hockey Series in India for the interest of the Pakistan team, unlike his teammates.
“Many Indian players and officials gave lucrative offers last year but I never showed interest. The reason was that I was the captain at that time and I wanted to be a role model. But look at what I’ve got in return.”
Imran added that he was still hoping to represent Pakistan at the Olympics and was keeping himself fit to be considered for the national team.
“But if it’s the PHF’s final decision then I will look to play foreign leagues because hockey is my bread and butter.”
A nonsense decision: Waseem
Meanwhile, Waseem termed the PHF’s decision as ‘nonsense’.
“The PHF invested heavily on us last year by sending us on lengthy tours,” he said. “Now all the training we received will go in vain. I’m not desperate to play in the Olympics because I’ve already played twice but the authorities should question such illogical PHF decisions.”
The 35-year old said he will shortly leave for the WHS where he will represent the Bhopal Badshahs.
Coach unhappy with team selection
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that coach Michel van den Heuvel is also unimpressed by the PHF’s decision to sack these seniors.
“The coach is not happy,” said a player. “He wanted to field the players he had been working with since he joined. This decision has been taken by the PHF itself for reasons yet unknown.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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@TrueMuslim : Brilliant solution!!!
i appreciated express tribune to highlight this news plz keep it up and find out the true reason.
Shame for PHF if Imran's claim is right
@haris: Morally bankrupt is diff...its because we lack good morals. We can't differentiate between right or wrong. Lets not just put it on all politicians or those who have positions. We as a whole nation have become like this. We are left with no morals.
@adnan: Brother it all is linked to we being immoral day by day. We all have become heedless. The only way to survive is to realize the facts and work on them else RIP Pakistan.
Corruption is so well institutionalized in our country that it is rather impossible to eliminate from each and everybody soul. Things has gone too far away from our control and I probably thinking of calling League of Nation to balance the order. lol!
@Ali: Your comments are meaningful but I can't find any significant relevance with the news article itself. What is the point of saying that we are Indianized or Bankrupt Pakistanis while our former Hockey captain has expressed his regret to play for his National side instead of accepting lucrative offers from elsewhere.
You should have gone to play the league Imran. Making money is your right!!! PHF will give you nothing, no money, no honor!! forget about them...please go and make money....
@Ali: Talk about Hockey dude, moral lecture is not the necessarily required here, you may not know the reason why these seniors left out for olympics, like many others including me.
another department on the peek of its corruption, what else anyone can expect from it. Hero's are disrespected and fools are being promoted to decision levels.
When these all happen in a nation, it is obvious that nation is going fast towards its destruction.
.....once upon a time we were a formidable foe...consistent world champions...nothing is sacred in Pakistan.
The whole Pakistani Nation is like this. We really don't care about our country and your one exception who really thinks.
Look at our cricket team dying to go to india to play IPL....? So plz learn from them. Don't be a true Pakistani. be like all of us. We are Morally Bankrupt Indianized Pakistanis. Our celebrities are dying to get naked in indian media. Our girls n boys just embrace western culture, dating, drinking drugs etc.
If today all Pakistanis get a visa for America/Europe or any other better place they will leave for their own family benefits & lifestyle. Nobody will stay in Pakistan or think for the betterment of Pakistan. Even living in Pakistan they never care of how much people are dying everyday because of these low life kafir talibans or on the other hand how much liberals are promoting everything un-Islamic like vulgarity/nudity.