BEIJING, Aug 12: Pakistan’s hockey coach Naveed Alam on Tuesday rejected the criticism of not using the rolling substitution rule in the match against Great Britain on Monday which the visitors lost 2-4.

“We cannot afford to rest our key players like Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi and Saqlain,” he told newsmen when approached to comment on the controversy.

“We are fully aware of the ruling but will only use it when really required,” he remarked. “I think none of the senior players showed any fatigue against Great Britain. We also inducted young and fresh players but not like Britain as we have our own planning and strategy.”

Naveed said it was a very important match for Pakistan against Great Britain and “we wanted to use our all resources. Boys played excellently in the second half but luck was not on our side.” The coach admitted there were many missed chances and even the penalty corner conversion rate was poor in the opening tie. Naveed said he alongwith Zakauddin were working on the problems and looking for improved performance from the boys against Canada.

“They are all motivated to deliver in the rest of the matches despite the defeat against Britain,” said the coach. “The heartening aspect of the match was that our top players Rehan and Saqlain played excellently and are geared up for the bigger games. It was also bad luck for Imran Warsi as his penalty hit once hit the goalpost and at another time it was brilliantly saved by the British goalkeeper.”

He disclosed that in order to improve the penalty corner conversion rate, a different strategy was now being planned by his team for the Olympic ties.

Meanwhile, the officials of Pakistan and India have shown inclination to resume the bilateral series to revive the game in the sub-continent, once known as the powerhouse of hockey.

The proposal came under discussion at a dinner hosted by Indian Olympics Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi along with Aslam Khan Secretary adhoc committee of the IHF in the honour of PHF chief Mir Zafarullah Jamali and Secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa in Beijing during the ongoing Olympics.

The officials discussed a possible resumption of the bilateral hockey series which they felt could improve the sagging fortunes in the Asian region. “We are definitely worried and want to chalk out comprehensive plans for hockey’s uplift in the region,” said Bajwa. “Our focus is on exchange of regular visits of senior and junior teams among the two countries.”

Eight-time Olympic gold medalist India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics for the first time in 84 years while three-time Olympic champion Pakistan failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy this year. “These are alarming signs and India and Pakistan must come together to take some extraordinary steps to save the game from disaster,” said ex-Olympian Bajwa who represented Pakistan in Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Bajwa added that soon after returning home, hectic programmes will be launched at the district level all over the country to lift the hockey standards. He said the PHF will facilitate the districts and provide them paid coaches for regular training programme and organising tournaments.—APP