Seniors upset over age barrier

KARACHI: The country’s senior players have criticised the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) following its change of policy that restricts all over-30 players from taking part in the national championship.

While the rule was introduced last year, many players expected the decision to be reversed after it created retrenchment concerns due to age restrictions.

The PHF, though, has allowed players who are part of the national setup to turn up for their departments in the championship.

“I think it’s unfair,” the national team captain Zeeshan Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “It’s like trying to send players home, snatching their jobs. Many players will lose their jobs, especially those who are employed on a contractual basis.

“With this decision, the PHF is contradicting itself: If a 30-plus player can play for the national team then why can’t departments use the older players?”

Echoing Ashraf’s views, Olympian Muhammad Shabbir said that with this rule the PHF had taken away his chance of regaining a spot in the national squad.

The 32-year-old centre-half, who represented Pakistan from 2000 to 2006, agreed with the notion that the PHF wanted to promote young talent but it was unfair to side-track the senior and more experienced players.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2010.