Sports minister Gill pulls up hockey selectors

Feb 4th, 2009 | By Sindh Today

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Sports Minster M.S.Gill Wednesday pulled up the national hockey selectors for airing their personal views about players, damaging the team’s morale when they are playing in a major tournament.

Reacting to the unseemly war of words between selector Aslam Sher Khan and coach in-charge of the national team Harender Singh over the performance of senior players, Gill said the selection committee should concentrate on their job instead of rushing to the media with their views.

‘The selectors should not make statements, more so when an international tournaments is on. They are independent as they collectively report to the ad hoc Committee and it’s Chairman,’ Gill said in a statement while congratulating the Indian team’s performance in the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup tournament in Chandigarh.

Aslam Sher as well as Ajit Pal had commented on the appointment of a foreign coach and their remarks have not gone well with even the ad-hoc committee which is now planning to do some straight talking with the selectors.

Convener of ad hoc committee Mohammad Aslam Khan refused to react, saying it is chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s call.

‘Chairman of ad hoc committee Suresh Kalmadi has taken note of the comments and he will probably talk to the selectors,’ said Khan.

The selection committee and the ad hoc committee have been at loggerheads over several issues since they took charge ten months ago following the supersession of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) by the Indian Olympic Association.

Aslam Sher was earlier the chief selector, but he was replaced by Ajit Pal Singh soon after he said he needed the administrative control of the game.