Sports

Former Pakistan hockey coach slams India's demand for apology

Former hockey coach says India has a habit of blaming Pakistan even if a rat dies in their country

Sports Desk September 14, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

Former hockey head coach Shahnaz Sheikh on Monday said that Pakistan does not need to reply to India's demand of an apology for the Champions Trophy incident, instead they should wait to take them on in the field.

Hockey India president Narendra Batra issued a statement on Monday saying: “ I would love to have Pakistan players but not with the kind of behaviour they displayed in the Champions Trophy. And they have shown no regret of that incident in writing or otherwise. I don't want to politicise the issue but that kind of behaviour was unacceptable. Least we need an apology from them," Batra said, as quoted by Press Trust of India.

While talking to Express News on Batra’s statement, Shahnaz said: “I met Indian players in Belgium and they were optimistic that Pakistani players will be invited to the Indian Hockey League this year. They think that Pakistani players bring with themselves quality and it is good for commercial aspects too.”

PHOTO: AFP

He added that he knew Batra personally and someone else was placing words in his mouth.

“I am disappointed by the statement of Batra,” said Shahnaz.

“Batra is a nice man. I don’t know who is dictating him to say such things. Pakistan and India can only solve the problems of hockey if they play a bilateral series.”

Shahnaz said that the quality of hockey in the sub-continent is dependent upon Pakistan-India bilateral series.

“Pakistan and India need to play bilateral series to improve the quality of hockey in the sub-continent.”

“Indian hockey was not able to digest the loss against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. So they are twisting that case further. FIH took action on the matter then and there and Pakistani players were barred from the next match, the final, which we lost."

PHOTO: AFP

He proposed the idea that Pakistan should start its own hockey league and invite Indian players.

“I would suggest that Pakistan Hockey Federation should start its own league and invite Indian players to participate in the tournament. This would send a message that we are not like them.”

When asked how Pakistan should reply to India on this matter, Shahnaz said: “Pakistan will reply India in the ground now. And we did reply them in India when we beat them at home. And what are the Indians complaining about? FIH punished our players for their mistake but Indian spectators pointed fingers and chanted abuses at me and my players, what about that?

COMMENTS (12)

far | 9 years ago | Reply To those humble souls thinking "what's wrong in it" please note that it has nothing to do with behaviours, apologies and anything else. It has to do with indian mindset to bring shame to pakistan in any capacity they can. It is their psychology. Even if the players apologise they will not be picked by teams or they won't get visas due to some govt reason. Either way, it is high time pakistan must accept india is not a MFN in any aspect due to their anti pak policies and psychology. Pakistan must try to arrange funds from local organisations and play bigger teams like NED, eng, aus and germany. If you dont consider my opinion acceptable look at what happens in IPL and in any other avenue of trade or sport with india. Learn your lesson already. Look beyond india.

nm | 9 years ago | Reply @shaid Your comments are no different from the behavior of Pakistani players.IN FACT all the crowds in south asian countries misbehave when losing.Pakistani players were lucky that crowd spared their lives after obscene gestures.

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Babuibal | 9 years ago | Reply V good..He has done the holy thing. Now he is again entitled for coach position.

hammurabi | 9 years ago | Reply @shaid Your comments are no different from the behavior of Pakistani players.IN FACT all the crowds in south asian countries misbehave when losing.Pakistani players were lucky that crowd spared their lives after obscene gestures.

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply Right decision. India doesn't need to hide behind a veil of apology just to avoid a backlash of a possible defeat by the hands of "tiny heart" audience in India. They wish to lose out on good profit generating matches, their loss but no need to fool gullible people into thinking it was worth a real reason. Where is the punishment for virat koli giving finger vs Australia? Where is the apology for poisoning our blind team cricket captain?

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakistani Dude I'm a Pakistani who was acutely embarrassed by the horrible way our players conducted themselves on the field. Are you saying none of us should be concerned about the bad behavior of our players? Is this how we define patriotism now?

Gaurav | 9 years ago | Reply As an Indian hockey fan I find this decision of Naridra Batra a little harsh, I was watching the match , Pakistani players did crossed the limit in celebration ,, But they got punishment in form of a match ban, The issue should be settled there, Both by PHF and HI. As a hockey fan I personally want pakistani players play in Indian hockey fields ,, But what is going to be happened next: India has drawn red line of apology , And I don't think that HI will push back from its stance. As far as I know PHF is facing huge financial problems, So they have 2 options : 1) Either stay hungry with Ego 2) Or make apology and sleep with full stomach. Indian Hockey is not developed that much that it can improve w/o playing Pakistan unlike cricket.

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply @mjk: WHY Apologize,, for what.. Absolutely NO; Dont play with us, go and play with your father/daddy in Europe.. No need to be twisted on this.. you lost and you must face it .. no second option.. it was Pakistan who was a much better team and defeated Hindus-tan Team on the field.. stop vomiting and get on with it; You are so civil that you dont know how to lose with Grace..your civility is to shout cry and become raita of the whole game; Civility has not even passed near your souls; and you talk about civility... wake up, face reality and show some guts in accepting defeat in the game.

Paki | 9 years ago | Reply @mjk: if we don't have civil sense. You don't have humanity.

Pakistani Dude | 9 years ago | Reply @mjk: Bro, no need to remind us you are an Indian.

mjk | 9 years ago | Reply WHY?! EGO? Why is it so hard to apologize. Even a blind man can see that our players behaved rudely. Don't even start that Indians also do this/do that. Either stop comparing yourselves to your neighbours or embrace the fact that you're just like them. APOLOGIZE... that's the civil way. You know civility?

ALi | 9 years ago | Reply "FIH punished our players for their mistake but Indian spectators pointed fingers and chanted abuses at me and my players, what about that?" Indians are ill mannered not very different from Pakistan but at least Pakistanis treat indians nicely when they are in Pakistan.

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