Don’t expect overnight progress, says Imran
Pakistan captain insists time required to revive country’s hockey.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation, along with the team, is determined for revival but we’ll have to be patient. Progress will come for sure but it won’t overnight, says Imran.
KARACHI:
As the greenshirts gear up for a tour of Australia and the Asian Champions Trophy, captain Mohammad Imran is targeting improvement, not medals in the upcoming assignments, which he feels is a ‘realistic approach’.
The national sport has seen significant changes after the failure to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, a tournament Pakistan has won a record four times. Besides a new secretary – Rana Mujahid – the team also has a new head coach in Tahir Zaman, while several senior players were removed from the squad to pave way for youngsters.
Pakistan will play the International Super Series Nine-a-Side tournament in Perth this week followed by Test matches Down Under. The team will then make a trip to Japan, where it will defend its Asian Champions Trophy title next month. The greenshirts scheduled to depart for Australia on October 15.
Apart from winning the continental event in Doha last year, Pakistan claimed bronze in the last edition of the International Super Series.
However, the captain played down Pakistan’s chances of winning the event.
“We are well prepared for these assignments but titles are not our target right now,” Imran told The Express Tribune.
“We have four to five rookies as our squad mainly comprises junior players. Our aim will be to build confidence in these youngsters by giving them exposure.
“The Pakistan Hockey Federation, along with the team, is determined for revival but we’ll have to be patient. Progress will come for sure but it won’t overnight.
“The youngsters lack experience but they are highly talented. They can make a difference if guided properly.”
Meanwhile, Imran claimed that senior players including Shakeel Abbasi, who was dropped after the Asia Cup, can still make a comeback.
“Dropping seniors was the decision of the team management. Senior players have their own importance and the management has not written them off.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2013.
As the greenshirts gear up for a tour of Australia and the Asian Champions Trophy, captain Mohammad Imran is targeting improvement, not medals in the upcoming assignments, which he feels is a ‘realistic approach’.
The national sport has seen significant changes after the failure to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, a tournament Pakistan has won a record four times. Besides a new secretary – Rana Mujahid – the team also has a new head coach in Tahir Zaman, while several senior players were removed from the squad to pave way for youngsters.
Pakistan will play the International Super Series Nine-a-Side tournament in Perth this week followed by Test matches Down Under. The team will then make a trip to Japan, where it will defend its Asian Champions Trophy title next month. The greenshirts scheduled to depart for Australia on October 15.
Apart from winning the continental event in Doha last year, Pakistan claimed bronze in the last edition of the International Super Series.
However, the captain played down Pakistan’s chances of winning the event.
“We are well prepared for these assignments but titles are not our target right now,” Imran told The Express Tribune.
“We have four to five rookies as our squad mainly comprises junior players. Our aim will be to build confidence in these youngsters by giving them exposure.
“The Pakistan Hockey Federation, along with the team, is determined for revival but we’ll have to be patient. Progress will come for sure but it won’t overnight.
“The youngsters lack experience but they are highly talented. They can make a difference if guided properly.”
Meanwhile, Imran claimed that senior players including Shakeel Abbasi, who was dropped after the Asia Cup, can still make a comeback.
“Dropping seniors was the decision of the team management. Senior players have their own importance and the management has not written them off.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2013.