KARACHI Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) 'rested' Rehan Butt and sacked assistant coach Kamran Ashraf for attending the opening ceremony of an academy established by some 'rival' Olympians.
Sources told Dawn.com that Kamran and Rehan both attended and played an exhibition match at the launching ceremony of the Olympians Academy established by former Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman in Gojra.
Although PHF secretary Asif Bajwa was not available for comments, sources said PHF warned Rehan and Kamran they would suffer if they opted to become part of opening ceremony of the academy.
When contacted Rehan confirmed he was approached by a national selector who asked him not to play at the exhibition match during the opening ceremony of the academy.
'There is so much dirty politics in hockey now which can't be described in words. I was approached by (Muhammad) Shafiq who conveyed the message from the PHF. He asked me that I should not go to Gojra and become part of the hockey academy or I will damage my career. I played the exhibition match to motivate youths. I am being punished for playing hockey,' Rehan told Dawn.com on Monday.
Rehan, who is among the four players 'rested' by the PHF, said his ouster from the camp was nothing but vendetta.
'So dirty is the politics that even poor workers who served tea and did odd jobs for PHF have been told not to come for any national activity like training camps because they also took part in some way during the launch of the academy,' said Rehan.
Apart from Rehan, PHF rested Mohammad Saqlain, Shakeel Abbasi and Sohail Abbas, saying it wants to try out junior players. But on the other hand one of the most senior players Waseem Ahmad has been invited for the camp.
'I was never taken into confidence before such decision. I simply can't understand why PHF rested us when Pakistan hockey needs us. When we were playing in foreign leagues, PHF wanted us to leave the leagues and play for Pakistan. And when we are here and free, they don't want us,' Rehan complained.
'I came back from Europe, leaving the league for Pakistan . But we are being treated like trash. I never came to play for Pakistan on PHF's order or request. I came to play for Pakistan . Now if PHF recalls me during my foreign league, I may not be available. I say somebody at the helm of affairs see what they (PHF) are up to. Is there anybody who questions them,' asked Rehan.
The former Pakistan skipper also confirmed that Kamran had also become a victim since he also featured in the exhibition match. He said Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar also played the exhibition match, but he had been invited for the camp as PHF had no option.
'While Kamran had nothing to do with the good or bad performance of the team at Asia Cup he has been removed on the pretext that team fared badly at Asia Cup. The fact is coach Shahid Ali Khan is a dummy and Asif Bajwa called the shots. He was the actual coach during the Asia Cup. If we lost against South Korea during final, it was because of Asif, not Kamran,' said Rehan.
Rehan said PHF had taken his involvement in academy activity as a matter of ego since he didn't want rest at this moment when World Cup qualifiers are months away.
'I don't understand why I have been rested. I am not that senior a player as Sohail or Saqlain are. They should have given a reason for this but I was not taken into confidence. I am a national player. I do not play hockey on streets,' said Shakeel.
Meanwhile, Tahir felt while PHF should have been thankful for easing the burden of exploring the talent, its response was negative.
'I think only reason of such victimization of players was that PHF feels threatened by our efforts. They think we have launched the academy to destabilise PHF academies in the region.'
'If we produce players through our academy, they will be for Pakistan hockey. But PHF doesn't understand that. Instead they are apprehensive. Players are being threatened by PHF for getting involved with us. Shahbaz Ahmad, Kamran Ashraf, Qamar Zaman, and Khuwaja Junaid are on our panel of coaches,' said Tahir from Gojra.
