KARACHI, Oct 11: While Pakistan hockey coach Shahnaz Sheikh’s absence was conspicuous at the training camp which started in Islamabad on Wednesday, five senior players followed suit by preferring to play for foreign leagues instead of coming back to national duty.

Shahnaz, who was appointed manager-cum-coach weeks before the World Cup in Mochengladbach, Germany, is busy in his official commitments as a PIA official in Jeddah.

His absence from the training camp set up in preparation for the Dec 1 to 15 Asian Games in Doha is, however, not very surprising since this is not the first time that the former Olympian has failed to join the camp because of his professional engagements.

Shahnaz had created quite a stir back in the late ‘90s when he missed the training camp for several days owing to his commitments as a PIA official in Karachi.

Although initially, Shahnaz was appointed only for the World Cup, later his tenure was extended till the Asian Games despite a horrendous performance in Germany where Pakistan finished a poor sixth.

Interestingly, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Akhtarul Islam also belongs to PIA and the question is that when the PHF was aware of Shahnaz’ track record as coach, why was he appointed for the key post for such important events?

With the Asian Games barely two months away, Pakistan hockey is facing an administrative turmoil and the looming possibility of having a new-look squad for the mega event in the absence of senior players Mohammad Saqlain, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmad, Dilawar Hussain and Ghazanfar Ali who are busy elsewhere.

However, for the makeshift camp commandant, Manzoorul Hassan, everything is fine. The former Olympian is neither worried about Shahnaz’s absence nor does he think the players skipping the camp for lucrative league contracts abroad are violating any code of conduct.

“There is nothing to worry about,” said Manzoor. “Shahaz will join the next phase of the camp which starts from Nov 1 in Karachi. He could not come since there is a rush for flights for Umra. This is just a physical training camp for which I have been assigned. The technical training starts in November,” the former Olympian told Dawn from Islamabad.

As for the five players appearing in various leagues abroad, Manzoor says it is nothing “serious” and he will consider any player who even reports for a single day during the 10-day training camp.

While Akhtar has categorically stated that only those players who would attend the complete training camp would be considered for selection, Manzoor is obviously thinking on a different level.

“As a camp commandant and a selector I can say with full responsibility and authority that I will definitely welcome any player who is playing in league even if he reports just a day before the end of this phase of the training,” he said.

When quizzed would it not promote player-power and indiscipline among the players, Manzoor disagreed. Instead, he gave the offenders a pat on the back for ignoring national duty by saying: “They have gone abroad to earn money which should be their preference. They are doing the right thing. If Sohail and Waseem can be pardoned and taken back into the fold after a gap of two years, why should the others not be considered for doing the same thing?” remarked the former Olympian.

Sohail and Waseem staged a comeback at the Terrassa Champions Trophy earlier this year after their retirement in 2004 December. The pair didn’t report during last two years despite several calls by the PHF, saying they would be available only for major events.

Manzoor, though, was at loss of words when asked why Shahbaz Ahmad is always condemned for the infamous revolt he led weeks before 1996 Atlanta Olympics against the PHF administration.

Ironically, while Manzoor has been putting his weight behind players who are not ready to pay heed to national duty, Akhtar, after taking charge as secretary in July, clearly stated that there would be no compromise on indiscipline.

While Manzoor was adamant that all the players despite their long absence should be considered during the first phase, Australian hockey star Troy Elder was suspended for 12 months for playing league instead of taking part in the seven-nation Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur last May.

Aussies sorely missed Elder at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne earlier this year but never bowed to the player’s antics.

Altogether 37 players reported to Manzoor in the camp while Shabbir Hussain was absent owing to some personal reasons.