I’ve been made a scapegoat, says Shakeel Abbasi

Former captain infuriated on snub from hockey squad.

KARACHI: Former captain Shakeel Abbasi has lamented his exclusion from the probables list for the national hockey team’s upcoming assignments.

The veteran has questioned the management’s reasons behind the axing of the senior players despite a good show in recent tournaments.

Abbasi was one of ten players of the Asia Cup-bound team, who were overlooked for the preliminary squad announced this week for the tour of Australia and the Asian Champions Trophy in October and November.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) made major changes in the aftermath of the team’s failure to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, but Abbasi believes the strategy will fail.



“What I feel is I’ve been made a scapegoat for the failure,” the former captain told The Express Tribune.

He said the decision was more shocking to him as the PHF sought his availability for the forthcoming assignments.

“I had to go to England and Belgium for leagues during these months. But I preferred the national side and immediately handed my passport to the PHF after they asked. But then I came to know that I’ve been dropped.”

Abbasi termed his exclusion unjustified and stressed the PHF was not learning from its mistakes.

“I have been performing well consistently. I won the best player award at the [FIH] Champions Trophy last year and since then my performance has been instrumental.

“They insulted me by sending me out of the Asia Cup training camp during Ramazan and despite people advising me against it, I rejoined just in national interest.

“The PHF has not sent out a good message to the youngsters by treating me like that.”

‘Youngsters will struggle without seniors’

Abbasi also questioned the inclusion of inexperienced players in abundance as the team management named all the 18 players of the national junior squad in the initial list.

“The idea will not work,” he said. “The junior players must have seniors around to take the pressure off and from whom they can learn. This will put too much pressure on the junior players and they will struggle because of that.”

Abbasi hoped the PHF will reconsider the decision and will recall him for the squad.

“I had a chat with a top PHF official and he has promised to discuss my case with the team management. I am ready and can play for many years to come.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2013.

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