I think that our players badly need some kind of psychological training to help them maintain control and perform optimally in big games: Tahir Zaman. -Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD Two former Olympians, both former captains of the Pakistan hockey team, have called for introducing regular psychological counseling for players to improve national team's prospects in international events.

Tahir Zaman and Shahbaz Ahmed (senior) opined in interviews with this APP that Pakistan's 4-2 defeat by New Zealand in the final of BDO Champions Challenge Cup in Salta, Argentina, should serve as a wake-up call for the management.

'I think that our players badly need some kind of psychological training to help them maintain control and perform optimally in big games,' said Tahir Zaman.

He said Pakistan had a good chance to prove the world that they were still among the best sides, but they remained unable to grab the opportunity when it presented itself.

'Pakistan were dominating the match in the first fifteen minutes, but after that the players lost their pace, thus providing New Zealand an opportunity to pressurize them and clinch the win,' he said.

He said Pakistan outfit were consisted of more experienced and talented boys but psychologically they were not so strong. 'The New Zealanders dominated not because they were better players as compared to our boys, but because they exhibited great mental control and did not loose their nerves.'

Tahir Zaman, who also served national team as coach, said Pakistan should have played the match with the same pace as they did against India in the semi-final. He said the defeat also exhibited that no proper game plan was chalked out for the final.

'Hockey has become a very tricky game now and for each match you have to devise a different strategy. But unfortunately that strategy was missing in the final,' he said.

He said Pakistan's defence line was extremely fragile and prone to New Zealand attacks.

'Throughout the match their two to three New Zealand players marked centre-Half Wasim Ahmed and after clinching the ball from him there was nobody in the defense to stop them from scoring goals,' he added.

To a question he said that Pakistan should play the upcoming World Cup with the same team, but there was a dire need to diagnose weaknesses before departing for the main event. 'Without doing post-mortem of defeats in big matches we will not be able to make a place in the semi-final,' he added.

Sharing his views upon Pakistan team's defeat Shahbaz Ahmed also said that counseling of players was necessary. 'Psychological grooming of the boys is vital as it will enhance their winning capability,' he said.

He said too much reliance upon Sohail Abbas and a flimsy defense were the main causes of Pakistan's defeat in the final.

'Pakistan also wasted several short corners, while Sohail remained unable to convert them. If you keep on doing this against stronger sides in World Cup you will stand nowhere,' he added.

Meanwhile, renowned hockey commentator Syed Zakar Hussain also underlined the need to stop reliance only upon senior players.

Commenting upon team's defeat he said besides bad luck, it was because Pakistan were mainly relying upon senior players.

'If Sohail Abbas or Rehan Butt fail, there is nobody to do the job,' he said.

He said there should be a substitute for each senior player.