KARACHI, Sept 28: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials blow their own trumpets, while the game continues to suffer because of damaging steps taken during the past two years.

The hockey slump started on July 5, 2000 when the present setup headed by Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan and Brig Musarrat Ullah took over as the PHF president and secretary.

The PHF feels elated and “satisfied” over what can aptly be described as a frustrating scenario, but at the same time has also changed the selection committees and the team managements thrice and twice respectively in two years.

One would like to ask if the PHF is “satisfied” why has it removed team officials and changed the composition of the selection committee not only once but thrice.

However, it seems Brig Khalid Khokhar has become a life member of the selection committee. The “indispensable” selector was sacked as manager after the World Cup debacle but surprisingly remains a selector. How can an official be worthy enough to choose the squad when he can’t even manage it.?

If one takes a glance at the team’s performance it had achieved nothing except finishing third, fourth or fifth in major tournaments for the past two years.

The green shirts started with 2000 Sydney Olympics in September where they finished fourth. The PHF hierarchy fielded the team in the nine-nation Prime Minister’s Gold Cup hosted by Dhaka last March, perhaps to grab a “title”.

Arch-foes India were the only notable opposition while the other participants were Bangladesh, Japan, Scotland, Egypt, Ireland, Malaysia, and China. Pakistan reached the final only to lose to India 3-2.

In June, Pakistan finished second in the four-nation tournament in Hamburg, settled at fourth place in August’s Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur, and November’s Champions Trophy in Rotterdam.

A victory at the six-nation contest in Kuala Lumpur in January this year was the only consolation, while the same side slumped to fifth position at the World Cup after a month.

A bronze at July-Aug Commonwealth Games in Manchester was all the team could manage, only after 7-1 semifinal humiliation by rank outsiders New Zealand, the country’s worst-ever defeat. The team managed to win another bronze at Cologne Champions Trophy in August-September.

But the aspect that must be taken into consideration is not the two bronzes, but that the team could have done even more had the PHF taken right decisions. Can the officials honestly say since when the team has performed consistently?

The PHF secretary recently tried to paint a rosy picture at a press conference in Karachi, claiming the team has won 36 matches, lost 16, drawn three of the 55 internationals during the two years. According to him, team scored 170 goals and conceded 93.

To set the record straight, Pakistan have played 74 matches since July 2000, of which they won 41, lost 20, 13 ended in draw, netted 225 goals, and conceded 152.

If one goes by what the secretary said the figures seem to be impressive. But they are far from reality and the official has tried to hoodwink, misguide the media, fans, and the nation.

The bulk of goals came against the likes of Spain (24 goals), England (21) South Korea (16), South Africa (15), New Zealand (15), Japan (14) and China (nine).

But when the team faced Australia, Germany, they conceded more goals than scored. Pakistan conceded 29 goals, scored 23 against Australia, found the cage 16 times against the Germans who pumped in 24 goals.

Pakistan have met the Germans seven times during the two years but have not won once. Out of ten games against the Aussies, Pakistan lost five, won three and managed to hold the rivals twice.

The figures clearly expose the actual picture. The team fared well only against the underdogs and not when they were required to excel. Pakistan crumbled against Germany, Australia, although the two fielded youthful and inexperienced sides.

The hockey lovers still remember the shock 7-1 loss to the Kiwis at Commonwealth Games, and 2-1 defeat by minnows Argentina at the World Cup.

And yet the PHF secretary has the audacity to express “satisfaction” and tell the nation hockey is on the comeback trail.

The secretary’s claims of inducting nine juniors is nothing but another trick he played on the media and the nation. There are several precocious youngsters waiting for a call.

For instance, young, promising right-in Sameer Hussain was discarded after Sydney Games. He was recalled for the pre-World Cup event, but again axed for no reason.

Striker Mohammad Khalid, who had staged a comeback after almost year and half, was also sidelined after Azlan Shah Cup last year. Yousuf brothers — Imran and Irfan are also on the chopping block since long.

The PHF drafted few youngsters, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ghazanfar Ali, Dilawar Hussain, and Mudassir Ali, not with an intention to infuse young blood, but because four seniors were on the injury list.

The PHF made itself a laughing stock when before the Rotterdam Trophy it included aging striker Shahbaz Ahmad in the same squad which was being coached by the former great himself.

After poor showings at the Trophy and the World Cup, the secretary then realized the folly and said Shahbaz’s inclusion was a gamble which failed.

But that was not enough. The PHF’s quest for a quick success didn’t subside. It recalled retired goalkeeper Ahmad Alam for this year’s European tour including series in Spain, Commonwealth Games, and Cologne Trophy.

Ahmad conceded 25 goals in the Azlan Shah Cup before hanging his boots. Was there any logic in inviting Ahmad who had retired saying he wants to pave way of youngsters.?

Both the PHF and Ahmad lost out when officials invited him and he rushed to “serve the country”. The question is when Ahmad left to give a chance to youngsters, why he came out of the retirement and why the PHF called him despite Mohammad Qasim’s outstanding performances at the Trophy and the World Cup.

The PHF took another “wise” step, inviting Kamran Ashraf for the trip to Europe. Kamran sang the same song and like Ahmad he had called it a day “to make room for a youngster.”

To further complicate matters PHF even called up injured right-in Atif Bashir for the Asian Games who is contemplating to hang his boots after a collar bone fracture.

The people at the helm of hockey affairs should have taken inspiration from India who now have 14 youngsters from their Junior World Cup winning squad. But the PHF is bent upon damaging the game, inducting over-the-hill “veterans”.

The PHF secretary who had termed the media lashing on team’s performances “uncalled for”, perhaps does not know the history of Pakistan hockey. Perhaps he doesn’t know Pakistan are four- times world champions, winners of three Olympic golds, Asian Games gold medallists, and had clinched every major title at stake.

If the present circumstances are “satisfactory” for the PHF then the sport is bound to be doomed.