KARACHI: Former legendary Olympian Samiullah on Wednesday said the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was now taking too much pressure after the World Hockey League (WHL) disaster and as a consequence was now taking incoherent decisions.

“The PHF is now taking too much pressure on itself in order to enable the team to perform in next month’s Asia Cup in Malaysia. I fear the team will not be able to perform due to the atmosphere surrounding the team and the management in the important event,” Samiullah underlined.

The federation was out of its wits and in order to make a comeback in the Asia Cup, it was now taking confused decisions, he insisted.

“I don’t think recalling goal-keeper Salman Akbar to the training camp is a prudent decision. He is now 34 and has been out of touch from international hockey for around two years. Either the decision to drop him from national ranks was a wrong decision or if it was correct two years back then calling him back after two years has to be wrong surely,” Samiullah explained.

However, Samiullah praised Salman for being an impressive goal-keeper acknowledging he did a good job during his prime days.

Samiullah also criticised the coaches for not allowing Shakeel Abbasi to feature in the camp only because the player has been fasting in the holy month of Ramazan.—Agencies