LAHORE, Aug 25: Former Olympian Saleem Nazim had urged that a committee should be formed to probe the dismal performance of the Pakistan hockey team in the Athens Olympic-2004.

"A committee comprises former Olympians will be the best forum to probe the matter as crore of rupees has been spent on the preparations for the Athens", Salim, who was recently sacked as Punjab Hockey Association secretary said.

He said that the PHF president General Muhammad Aziz should call technocrats from all over the country to adopt future strategy as the defeat had damaged the game in the country.

He said that the claims of the foreign coach Roelant Oltmans and Tahir Zaman on winning a medal proved a mirage. He said that PHF had not focussed on the team preparations as it had been creating anarchy in the provincial associations when the team was going to Athens.

"When the team was going to Athens, the PHF officials were making contacts with the Faisalabad's clubs presidents and the Punjab general council members to complete their vested interest", he alleged.

Saleem said that the role of selection committee had been eliminated after the induction of foreign coaches and pointed out that non-elected person in the PHF were the real conspirators and they should be sacked first. He demanded the PHF executive board should be reinstated forthwith so that decision with mutual understanding could be taken.

ADDS PPI: Former Olympian Qamar Ibrahim criticized frequent changes in national team claimed replacing players at crucial moments affect their performance which was visible during Olympics. It's also main reason behind team's failure.

He said that the Dutch coach did not play his role well in the match against Spain. Knowing the rivals' pace he should have adopted defensive approach. Despite conceding three consecutive goals the coach stuck to same strategy, which was somehow inexplicable, he added.