WITH the shameful debacle in the recently-concluded Hockey World Cup in New Delhi, the clock has turned back after quarter-of-a-century to the time when the then champions Pakistan not only surrendered two back-to-back titles — Asian Games at Seoul and sixth hockey World Cup at London — in 1986 but hit a new low 11th at Willesden.
People have a short memory so let us recall the scenario of the two events which pretty much changed the complexion of the game in Asia. South Korea beat Pakistan 2-1 in the final to win their maiden Asian Games hockey gold medal that brought to an end 16-year domination of the green-shirts in the region.
Pakistan was also shocked 1-2 by Malaysia in the last match of the league to finish second in the group which set an Indo-Pak semi-final of the Asian Games for the first time with the latter winning 3-1.
Pakistan hockey team had undergone a 34-day extensive European tour and participated in a four-nation tournament in Moscow before the two assignments.
Olympic right winger Kaleemullah who was out of the competitive hockey for almost six months because of fitness problem, was recalled to lead the team on European tour, Asian Games and the World Cup which sparked intrigues in the team.
Prolific spearhead Hasan Sardar who was made Kaleem's deputy on the European tour was dropped from the Seoul squad and replaced by Iftikhar. However, Hasan together with left winger Perwaiz Iqbal were invited to London to join the World Cup team at the expense of reserve forward Ziauddin and outside left Waseem Feroze.
Further humiliation was in store as Pakistan lost all games except against New Zealand (5-3) in their group and ended up with an embarrassing 11th position on Oct 17, 1986 after barely beating arch rivals India 3-2 in extra time at the classification match.
Incidentally, it was the first World Cup ever that was staged on the artificial turf.
Kalim who called it a day on return from London had attributed lack of discipline, jealousy and intrigue as causes for the defeat.
Veteran Olympian Anwar Ahmed Khan was made scapegoat as he was given the team after former Pakistan captain Khalid Mahmood resigned on return from the European tour on personal grounds.
The latter, who led Pakistan to victory in the inaugural World Cup at Barcelona in 1971, was intelligent to have sensed that the team was not in true elements and passed on the buck to the former.
Anwar was sixth coach in turn appointed by the PHF in six months. Manzoorul Hasan was named coach in Dec 1985 followed by Col (retd) Zafri, Saeed Anwar, Khalid Mahmood and Asad Malik (acting coach).
Brig (retd) M. Ashraf Chaudhri, General Manager Sports PIA, managed the team on the three trips.
The PHF came under heavy fire after Pakistan lost two titles in a span of three weeks and led to formation of a probe committee followed by supervisory committee by the ministry of sports. The supervisory committee was formed to implement the decisions of the probe committee. Some members of the two committees were common.
The probe committee headed by Mian Riazuddin Ahmed comprised Senator Lt. Gen (retd) Saeed Qadir, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Dr. Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry, Khwaja Zakauddin, Munawwar-uz-Zaman and Brig (retd) Abdul Hamid (convener).
The committee was assigned to investigate into causes of debacle besides recommending ways and means to eradicate weaknesses which could help in defending the Olympic title in Seoul two years later.
After taking into consideration the report of the probe committee, the Federal Sports Minister, Ghulam Mohammad Ahmed Khan Maneka, appointed an eight-member supervisory committee to plan, organise and work out all the details of the recommendations of the probe committee and implement in true spirit.
The formation of supervisory committee was a temporary arrangement with a mandate to hold fresh PHF polls.
Headed by the federal minister himself, the committee includes Air Marshal Wiqar Azim (PHF president), Senator Lt. Gen (retd) Saeed Qadir, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Dr. Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry, S. A. Mustafa, Jahanzeb Khan and Munawwar-uz-Zaman.
The report of the probe committee envisaged that the PHF has failed to deliver the goods and there's a need to set up a top body called the “Supervisory Committee for Hockey” under the chairmanship of the Minister for Sports to oversee the PHF's efforts to meet the future challenge of next Olympics.
It stated The post of the honorary secretary of PHF should be filled by a full-time paid officer who should be appointed by the president of the PHF.
For this purpose, the constitution of the PHF will have to be amended so that the secretary is not elected by General Council. It said the functions of PHF should be divided into two departments — technical dealing with selection, training and management of the national team and the other development dealing with popularisation and promotion of the game within the country.
All selections should be made by the selection committee and the president or secretary should not participate in the selection proceedings.
The coach of the national team should be appointed and associated with the selection and training of the team immediately. Coaches should be adequately paid.
The constitution of the PHF should be amended on the following lines.
The secretary is nominated by the president PHF and no person should be a member of the Council for more than two consecutive terms of four-year each.
Air Marshal Mohammad Azim Daudpota succeeded Air Marshal Wiqar Azim while Brig M. H. Atif was reelected secretary when the fresh elections of the PHF took place on Jan 10, 1987.
MNA Zafarullah Khan Jamali was named new chairman of the five-member selection committee which included Abdul Waheed Khan, Munawwar-uz-Zaman, Akhtar Rasool and Manzoorul Hasan. Khawaja Zakauddin was appointed first paid coach for four years.
Atif brushed aside allegations that he alone was responsible for the debacle. When Pakistan won the Bombay World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics no credit was given to him although he was responsible for entire training, he was quoted as saying. Finally, he resigned as the PHF secretary on May 15, 1989 after serving on the post for 11 years.
Pakistan hockey had ruled the world for an unprecedented six years 1978 to 1984 during the Nur Khan and Atif era.
It is irony that the government was only trying to pacify the issue and has not taken any practical step as former stalwarts and the PHF-backed players are at loggerheads since the World Cup ended in Delhi on March 13.
The veterans are demanding ouster of the PHF secretary Asif Bajwa forthwith though he has already been removed from the post of manager by the PHF chief Qasim Zia while dissolving the team management and selection committee.
People connected with the game alleged that he (Bajwa) has come from the backdoor and was trying to fit in the large-size boots of the late Brig Atif.
It is high time that the government should save the game from further destruction by holding an enquiry and showing the door to those who have damaged the country's pride.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.