21-Feb-2012
The News
Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Having axed Muhammad Imran from their preliminary squad, Pakistan will need a new captain to lead their team at this summer’s Olympic Games in London.
Imran seemed all set to captain Pakistan at the London Games but a string of below-par showings both at home and abroad has resulted in an unceremonious axing for the defender. The done thing in Pakistan hockey is that if a skipper gets out of national team due to any reason that can range from retirement to injury, his deputy automatically gets elevated to the role of captain.
So if the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s policy is followed then mercurial striker Shakeel Abbasi should be wearing the captaincy armband at the London Games. Many believe Abbasi is the right choice because of his experience and also due to the fact that it was under his captaincy that Pakistan defeated world number ones Australia in the final of a tri-nation tournament in Perth late last year.
But there is a twist to the story. The problem with Abbasi, according to a top PHF official, is that he has to once again prove his utility as a member of the national team in the lead up to the Olympics.
“Unlike cricket, our policy as far as the appointment of a captain is concerned is pretty simple,” Asif Bajwa, the PHF secretary told ‘The News’ on Monday. “In case a new captain is needed then the vice-captain gets a promotion,” he added. Asked whether the PHF has made up its mind to appoint Abbasi, who served as Imran’s deputy as the new Pakistan captain, Bajwa was non-committal.
“For that he (Abbasi) will have to retain his place in the national squad,” said Bajwa, a former Olympian.So that means there could be a question mark on Abbasi’s place in the national team which recently saw three of the country’s leading players including influential midfielder Waseem Ahmed and goalie Salman Akbar getting dumped.
“I’m not saying that,” said Bajwa. “But the thing is that he (Abassi) cannot take anything for granted and will have to convince the team management and more importantly the national selectors that the team needs him before the PHF takes final decision regarding captaincy.”
Pakistan will begin training for London Games by attending the first phase of the national training camp which will be held from February 27 at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. The Greenshirts will be warming up for the Olympics by featuring in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be played in Malaysia in May. |
