Pakistan hockey team returns home

LAHORE: A demoralized Pakistan hockey team, which finished at the bottom in the World Cup returned home to a lukewarm reception, on Saturday, with sacked coach Shahid Ali Khan setting off a new round of politicking with some strong comments.

Shahid, a former Olympian, accused some former Olympians and captains who have called for the removal of the Pakistan Hockey Federation president and secretary of trying to enforce their own agenda.

“Their agenda is to once again rule Pakistan hockey. People like Islahuddin, Khalid Mehmood, Khawaja Zakauddin, Shahbaz Ahmed are all tried and tested people and they are just trying to exploit the team’s poor performance in the World Cup for their own agenda,” he said.

The team which finished at the bottom of the table in the World Cup returned home to a lukewarm reception at the Lahore airport with the handful of people around hardly bothering to even greet them.

“I know the agenda of these former players, the fact is that if the team performed poorly in the World Cup, myself and the players take full responsibility for it. But it is also a fact that the PHF president and secretary have done everything possible to facilitate the team,” Shahid said.

He said that players like Shahbaz had done nothing for Pakistan hockey after retirement and were involved in politics.

“Shahbaz will be happy if the federation appoints Tahir Zaman as coach that is all,” Shahid said.