KARACHI While Pakistan hockey administrators have already dropped promising and experienced forward Adeel Hussain, they announced the Junior World Cup provisional squad on Saturday accommodating uncapped and inexperienced Hasan Akhtar.
Ironically, while Adeel has been axed from the squad during shorlisting earlier this month for the first time since his debut in 2006, Hasan was selected in the squad for Pakistan-India series which was cancelled since Indians decided against playing against archrivals because of political tensions.
To make matters worse, although Adeel played as left-in and left-out during recent tour of Egypt, he is originally a right-out. But despite being a centre-half Hasan has been selected as right-out which seems to be the reason for Adeel's ouster.
Interestingly, Hasan, son of former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Akhtar Rasool, played as centre-half during training camp.
Team coach Khuwaja Junaid, however, came up with some mind-boggling arguments when questioned about Adeel's ouster, selection process and his say in the selection.
The Olympian, who is a paid coach, was not even aware of Adeel's original position and argued that he played as left-winger and not as right-out. He said as Adeel always played on the left side, there was no room for him in the presence of players such as team captain Shafqat Rasool, Abbas Haider and Mohammad Zubair.
You can't compare Adeel with players like Zubair, Shafqat and Abbas who are Olympians and have international exposure with the senior team. Adeel plays on the left side. I am his coach not you or anybody else. Only I can know these things, Junaid old Dawn.com from Lahore.
Sources, however, said Adeel told assistant coaches Kamran Ashraf and Ahmad Alam time and again that he was originally a right-out but in vain.
However, Junaid said Adeel was axed on the wish of selectors and not on his recommendation, but refused to answer when asked would he agree with the decision.
It is the job of selectors to select. They have the say. Basically, selectors sign the final list of players, not the manager or coaches. You know these selectors better than me. They are such big names. Why should I tell you whether I am satisfied with the decision about Adeel or not. I am not answerable to you, said the coach.
On the other hand, Rana Mujahid, who is one of the selectors, categorically said team management enjoyed 80 per cent say in the final selection, while selection committee has only 20 per cent authority in the selection matters.
The selection committee can only argue in favour or against a player considering his performance in the last tournament. And that's it. Apart from that it is the team officials who enjoy the upper hand in the selection, said the selector.
Astonishingly, two injured players, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Rashid, have also been included in the 20-member provisional squad. Rashid has a groin injury, while Rizwan a twisted ankle.
The six players, Shafqat Rasool, Haseem Khan, Fareed Ahmad, Waqas Sharif, Abbas Haider and Mohammad Irfan, who have played back-to-back events, Azlan Shah Cup and Asia Cup, have also been included in the squad.
But for Junaid, there is no question of a burn-out and it is no a big problem for he believes that the players would be fielded in patches, utilising rolling substitution.
In an another debatable decision, half-back Sibtain Raza, who was included in Azlan Shah Cup squad but dropped for Asia Cup, is now in the junior squad.
According to Mujahid, two players would be dropped after some practice matches before the June 7 to 21 event to be co-hosted by Malaysia and Singapore.
Team management has been given powers to drop two players to make it an official 18-man squad for the World Cup, he said.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers Imran Shah, Imran Butt.
Full-back Mohammad Atiq, Kashif Ali, Amir Shahzad.
Half-backs Mohmmad Irfan, Fareed Ahmad, Sibtain Raza, Mohammad Rashid, Mohsin Bilal.
Forwards Waqas Sharif, Shafqat Rasool (captain), Haseem Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Haider, Mohammad Zubair, Inayatullah, Mohammad Taufeeq, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Akhtar, and Azlan Khan.
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