K. ARUMUGAM
Being the joint-proposers of the concept of World Cup for hockey, India and Pakistan got priority to host it; Pakistan the first India the third, The Netherlands for the intervening one. However, both India and Pakistan could not hold on to their own successful bids: Political situation in Pakistan saw the Cup moving from Lahore to Madrid while intense internal squabble in India led Malaysia rescue the third (Kuala Lumpur 1975). Interestingly, the then superpowers India and Pakistan, despite the venue woes, won the Cup collectively twice out of three.
India is just weeks away from hosting its fourth World Cup.
But it hosted its first after four editions since inception. If one looks at that session (1981-’82) to present one even as we are privileged to host a record fourth time (2010, 2018, 2023), one fact that emerges is that Bombay was most transparent. Everybody knows everything: Media being at the centre-stage, whereas since then its only ceremonial. Furthermore, players were open and frank, one always got the true emotions and feelings for the public consumption. Nowadays, due to the advent of the so-called professionalism and the diminishing role that media chose to play, commissioned information has become commonplace. Be it as it may.
In sync with the times, especially the outspoken nature of players helped the mass get the real pulse in the early days. One such that comes to mind is Ric Charlesworth. Australia, despite not losing any match in Bombay — lost the semifinal through tie-breaker — could only finish third. Pakistan won the Cup, details of which have often been published in the site.
What comes afresh to mind is series of interviews the Australian captain Ric Charlesworth gave after the bronze win. As is his much-known habit, he was forthright in his views, sparing none. This writer was quite surprised to unearth another of his frank views on Pakistan’s victory and ‘how the FIH always stand by the Europeans’ and such stuff
Let’s now dwell on these in detail.
Three days after the final, the legend, then 29, was asked about the much-praised Pakistan victory. Ric did not consider it’s a great victory. He said: “Pakistan should have consider themselves lucky to have won the World Cup. Imagine going through the entire tournament without having to play Australia or India, the two teams that would have given maximum problems to Pakistan, and you will be able to appreciate my point. I am sure that because Australia and India play with five forwards, unlike the Europeans, they would have been more successful in penetrating the gaps in the Pakistan team. And once Pak’s defence came under pressure, I doubt if their forwards would have played so much upfield. They would naturally have to stay back and bolster the defence. This would have upset their strategy and rhythm. I am not saying that Pak is not good team. Maybe they would have still won the Cup. But the point is, “they were not tested”.
He went on to refute Pakistan manger Brig. AHF Atif’s reasons for his team’s success: introduction of youth and making changes in the team.
“….these are nothing but big talk and empty rhetoric. Only one or two changes have been made in the defence in their last two years, and I am still be convinced that these changes haven been for good. The Pakistan team two years back was much stronger than what it is today. On the other hand, I think, Australia has a very good team today. We played them three times last year and were not beaten even once.”
He went on to add many other points to buttress his points, not included here for the feat of running into big volume.
The second point he vehemently made was with respect to the global governing body of the sport, the Federation Internationale Hockey (FIH). He was furious four substitutions were allowed in Bombay, though only three was in force till then — and also after the World Cup.
“That was the diabolic ruling. It was a typical European move aimed at helping the European teams because they were being bothered by the heat and humidity”.
The FIH did not enforce four substitutions after Bombay, maybe due to such sharp criticism. The provision of rolling substitutions came in the mid 90s.
It worthwhile to note that the Australians under his leadership went on to win the next World Cup in 1986, where Pakistan ironically finished eleventh just a rung above the other joint proposer of World Cup!
Note: The above interview, very comprehensive, appeared in a weekly magazine now defunct.
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www.stick2hockey.com is India’s oldest hockey website. Launched in 1999, the website, edited and owned by hockey historian and author K. ARUMUGAM, has covered all
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