KARACHI While Pakistan hockey coach Shahid Ali Khan concedes veteran players Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad didn't make any impact in the past, but he believes only their presence can ensure a victory for Pakistan at the Asia Cup in May.
The Olympian says that apart from penalty corner specialist Sohail and half-back Waseem, he wants to see forward Rehan Butt and goalkeeper Salman Akbar back for the cup in Malaysia.
'I agree Pakistan didn't do much despite Sohail and Waseem's recall for World Cup in 2006. We finished at sixth despite having them back. But I strongly believe we might win the Asia Cup having them in the squad. But if we rely on juniors, there is no chance. I will not be comfortable with having a squad with junior players,' the coach told Dawn.com from Lahore on Friday.
Shahid was, however, unconvincing when asked how Pakistan would be able to achieve lost glory having Sohail and Waseem in the squad, although green shirts never won a major title when the pair was even at its zenith.
'All I can say is that it's better to have such experienced players but only on condition that they must be physically fit and be at the camp three weeks before the event,' he said.
Since Sohail, Waseem, Rehan and Salman are busy playing leagues, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has called them up for Asia Cup camp which probably starts soon after Pakistan team returns from Ipoh where they feature in Azlan Shah Cup, which rolls off April 6.
Although Sohail and Waseem were once indispensable for the national side, their rollercoaster careers are tainted with several cases of indiscipline. While Sohail rose as a brilliant star on world hockey horizon, he degenerated into a fallen hero, chiefly because of ditching Pakistan team, preferring to play in European leagues over national duty.
He first made headlines when he along with team-mate Waseem opted to play league abroad, skipping back-to-back four-nation tournaments in Australia some six years ago.
He and Waseem tendered apologies and were included in the Champions Trophy squad by the then PHF president Gen Aziz Khan and secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan after a meagre Rs100,000-fine.
They abruptly ended their international careers soon after 2004 Champions Trophy in Lahore, saying they wanted to pave way for youngsters. Furious over their 'retirements' PHF ordered them time and again to report to national camps but ate humble pie after being snubbed by the duo.
In a bid keep to their contracts with foreign clubs intact, the pair rejoined the squad in 2006 to represent Pakistan at Madrid Champions Trophy and World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany only to leave Pakistan in the lurch once again.
It was in December 2006 that PHF president Zafarullah Jamali banned them along with controversial centre-half Mohammad Saqlain, half-back Ghanzafar Ali and defender Dilawar Hussain, for preferring to play in foreign leagues rather than reporting at Doha Asian Games camp.
Jamali back-tracked and reversed his decision, calling them all except Saqlain for the national duty. Ghazanfar and Dilawar reported but Sohail and Waseem again stayed away from national camp.
Sohail was also sacked last May by his department SSGC for remaining absent without leave to play in foreign league.
For Shahid, the Ipoh contest, which will see minnows such as Egypt and Malaysia in action along with better rated New Zealand and India, will be a training tour for which two uncapped players - Sibtain Raza and Zeeshan Ali - have been included, although they never represented even a junior side.
'I expect my side to at least reach the final at Azlan Shah Cup,' said Shahid without predicting the final's outcome.
Interestingly, despite being a former top class goalkeeper, Shahid believes that only one custodian in Nasir Ahmad will be enough for the tour. While Shahid wants to give the two youngsters a chance, he doesn't see any goalkeeper in the camp worthy enough to be included for the exposure.
Shahid, who has been assigned the task till Asia Cup, says ideally a long-term commitment is better than short stint, but the decision to extend his tenure depends on PHF.
In another surprising and unprecedented move, after naming the squad in Lahore, the team management has asked the standbys to leave.
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