Champions Trophy probables: Abbas, Butt snubbed
Former hockey captain Waseem returns from retirement as other seniors retained.
KARACHI:
In what has been dubbed ‘illogical selection’, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) team management decided to exclude the experienced duo of Sohail Abbas and Rehan Butt, while retaining other seniors for the Champions Trophy.
While Abbas and Butt’s names were missing from the probables list that was announced by the PHF yesterday, Waseem Ahmed, the only player to announce his retirement after the London Olympics, was surprisingly included ahead of the event in Australia.
The team will first participate in a nine-a-side International Super Series in Perth from November 22 to 25 that will be followed by the FIH Champions Trophy from December 1 to 9 in Melbourne.
The training camp for the two tournaments will start from November 1 in Lahore with players being asked to report a day earlier.
The goal-keepers – Imran Shah and Imran Butt who failed at the Olympics – were retained in the list that also includes a few new faces.
Another former captain Mohammad Imran also found a place, while the name of seasoned player Shakeel Abbasi was missing from the list but a top PHF termed it an error, saying the striker has been invited.
“We didn’t receive the names of Abbas and Butt from the head coach,” a top PHF official told The Express Tribune. “The selection was made purely by the team management. Waseem took back his retirement and has been invited by the coaches.”
The Champions Trophy will be the first major tournament after the team’s seventh-place finish in London, a result that triggered demands of a complete overhaul in the team and PHF set-up.
Lack of coordination among team officials?
Meanwhile, the probables list was in stark contrast to new coach Hanif Khan’s interview with The Express Tribune just before the announcement.
Khan, who was appointed coach after the abolition of the selection committee, has became a core part of the selection process and said that no player from the Olympics squad will be dropped.
“We don’t have time for changes before the Champions Trophy,” said the coach. “We will invite the same players for the training camp who participated in Olympics.
“We will assess all players and the ones who will show form and fitness will get the berth, irrespective of experience. Our ultimate target is the 2014 World Cup, while the immediate target is to win the Asian Champions Trophy.
“We will give our best to yield good results at the FIH Champions Trophy but our first challenge is to maintain Asian domination.”
Khan, however, could not be reached after the announcement.
Selection a mockery: Samiullah
Reacting to the probables list, legendary player Samiullah Khan criticised the selection process.
“There should have been a complete overhaul,” said the Olympian. “Youngsters should have gotten a chance for the Champions Trophy. It would have helped them in gaining valuable experience of featuring in a mega tournament. The selection of Waseem after his retirement is a mockery and this selection appears illogical.”
Probables
I Shah, I Butt, Irfan Senior, S Kashif Shah, M Imran Senior, M Rizwan Senior, M Tousiq, F Ahmed, R Mahmood, M Waqas, S Rasool, U Bhutta, A Haseem, M Rizwan Junior, A Shan, M Ateeq, M Nawaz, W Ahmed, M Imran Junior, A Zubair, U Rafique, A Hassan Faraz, M Talal Khalid, K Ali, S Sibtain Naqvi, W Liaqat Butt and S Hussain
Sohail Abbas
“The snub is surprising as they asked me of my availability. However, I will keep myself fit and will be available. My wishes are with the team.”
Rehan Butt
“I have no plans to retire just yet and will keep playing till I am physically fit. I will continue to focus on my fitness and form.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.
In what has been dubbed ‘illogical selection’, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) team management decided to exclude the experienced duo of Sohail Abbas and Rehan Butt, while retaining other seniors for the Champions Trophy.
While Abbas and Butt’s names were missing from the probables list that was announced by the PHF yesterday, Waseem Ahmed, the only player to announce his retirement after the London Olympics, was surprisingly included ahead of the event in Australia.
The team will first participate in a nine-a-side International Super Series in Perth from November 22 to 25 that will be followed by the FIH Champions Trophy from December 1 to 9 in Melbourne.
The training camp for the two tournaments will start from November 1 in Lahore with players being asked to report a day earlier.
The goal-keepers – Imran Shah and Imran Butt who failed at the Olympics – were retained in the list that also includes a few new faces.
Another former captain Mohammad Imran also found a place, while the name of seasoned player Shakeel Abbasi was missing from the list but a top PHF termed it an error, saying the striker has been invited.
“We didn’t receive the names of Abbas and Butt from the head coach,” a top PHF official told The Express Tribune. “The selection was made purely by the team management. Waseem took back his retirement and has been invited by the coaches.”
The Champions Trophy will be the first major tournament after the team’s seventh-place finish in London, a result that triggered demands of a complete overhaul in the team and PHF set-up.
Lack of coordination among team officials?
Meanwhile, the probables list was in stark contrast to new coach Hanif Khan’s interview with The Express Tribune just before the announcement.
Khan, who was appointed coach after the abolition of the selection committee, has became a core part of the selection process and said that no player from the Olympics squad will be dropped.
“We don’t have time for changes before the Champions Trophy,” said the coach. “We will invite the same players for the training camp who participated in Olympics.
“We will assess all players and the ones who will show form and fitness will get the berth, irrespective of experience. Our ultimate target is the 2014 World Cup, while the immediate target is to win the Asian Champions Trophy.
“We will give our best to yield good results at the FIH Champions Trophy but our first challenge is to maintain Asian domination.”
Khan, however, could not be reached after the announcement.
Selection a mockery: Samiullah
Reacting to the probables list, legendary player Samiullah Khan criticised the selection process.
“There should have been a complete overhaul,” said the Olympian. “Youngsters should have gotten a chance for the Champions Trophy. It would have helped them in gaining valuable experience of featuring in a mega tournament. The selection of Waseem after his retirement is a mockery and this selection appears illogical.”
Probables
I Shah, I Butt, Irfan Senior, S Kashif Shah, M Imran Senior, M Rizwan Senior, M Tousiq, F Ahmed, R Mahmood, M Waqas, S Rasool, U Bhutta, A Haseem, M Rizwan Junior, A Shan, M Ateeq, M Nawaz, W Ahmed, M Imran Junior, A Zubair, U Rafique, A Hassan Faraz, M Talal Khalid, K Ali, S Sibtain Naqvi, W Liaqat Butt and S Hussain
Sohail Abbas
“The snub is surprising as they asked me of my availability. However, I will keep myself fit and will be available. My wishes are with the team.”
Rehan Butt
“I have no plans to retire just yet and will keep playing till I am physically fit. I will continue to focus on my fitness and form.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.