KARACHI, June 9: Pakistan goalkeeper Ahmad Alam came under heavy fire on Monday when former Olympians slammed him for conceding too many goals at recent three-nation contests and suggested recall of Mohammad Qasim.

Rasheedul Hassan and Hanif Khan, both put their weight behind Qasim as they felt Ahmad failed to deliver in Australia despite being the senior goalkeeper of the team.

“If junior players have been inducted as forwards then why youngsters should not be considered as goalkeepers and defenders. Ahmad has played enough hockey and has completely been exposed. I think Qasim should be brought in and Salman (Akbar) be retained,” Rasheed said.

Pakistan finished at rock bottom in the two tri-nation events in Perth and Sydney.

The green shirts scored 14 goals and conceded 25 in the two tournaments involving Australia, India and Australia ‘A’. Twelve out of 25 goals were conceded during the first leg and 13 in the second competition.

“I can’t understand why Qasim was overlooked for the tour. He should have been in the squad with Salman as reserve keeper, while Ahmad had no place in the team. But anything can happen if there is favouritism,” Rasheed said.

The former right-half said the failure of the forwards during the two events was understandable, but collapse of the deep defence indicated that team needed a younger and agile custodian rather than an aging player who was at twilight of his career.

“Goalkeeper has an importance of his own. Today’s hockey needs a young and alert goalkeeper. Apart from a youthful keeper, we need younger defenders too. Teams kept on scoring against us although we had experienced Tariq (Imran) and Ali (Raza). We can’t afford to concede so many goals in the future,” he added.

Rasheed was critical of the behaviour of the players who were involved in the brawl in a match against India, saying discipline should have been maintained, especially while the team was losing.

“The disastrous results of the two tournaments were a foregone conclusion if we consider damaging policies the Pakistan Hockey Federation has adopted,” he said.

Hanif agreed that while Mohammad Nadeem was suspended and Mohammad Sarwar came under the axe, Ahmad should have been shown the door to give Qasim and Salman a chance.

“It is a fact that Qasim is lot more younger than Ahmad whose pathetic performance has proved the PHF was wrong in retaining him in the squad. We did not score as we had no experienced schemer and winger. But is there any explanation why Ahmad conceded at least 22 or 23 goals in both the events,” he asked.

“Although Qasim got injured before Commonwealth Games, there was no room for Ahmad. PHF could have brought in some stand-bye goalie instead of Ahmad,” he remarked.

Olympian Anwar Ahmad Khan came hard on the three players — Nadeem, Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad — who went to play in professional league in Germany and skipped the training camp.

“I suggest they should be banned for life. If Nadeem was punished despite his apology, then there should be sever punishment for the other two which should be a life ban,” he added.

Anwar said it was heart-breaking that Pakistan slumped even against Australian second-string side and lashed out at PHF secretary for his statement in which he gave fast tempo of the Aussies as the reason for the defeats.

“It was a lame excuse. If the Australians were playing fast then the team should have slowed down the tempo of the game. It’s a simple technical thing which I think the secretary PHF does not know,” he said.