Hockey has changed radically over recent times.

Rajpal Singh, the captain of our Hockey team is an epitome of athleticism, skill, game intelligence, dedication and mature behaviour on and off the field. Under him and Coach Brasa, the Indian team has most certainly shown the first signs of revival in Hockey. It is a treat to watch him play his game and motivate his teammates.

The Indian selectors the ex Olympians, Ajit Pal Singh, B P Govinda and Zafar Iqbal were all world class during their own time. Each strode the hockey scene like a colossus during their heyday.

Rajpal made a recent comment as to “the basics of hockey remain the same & hence these above selectors are well qualified to be selectors even though they played in the 60’s & 70’s.” One commends Rajpal for his diplomacy but a scrutiny of the facts paints a different picture.

Here are some fundamental changes just to name a few.

1. While overhead shots were not allowed during the seventies, high goal bound shots are considered legitimate at present. It is also worthwhile enquiring whether our selectors, who still select players, are aware of all the latest rules changes, e.g, whether they know the difference between a legitimate overhead goal-bound shot and a similar shot which is deemed dangerous.

2. Five yard free-hit rule outside the striking circle:how is this set play situation handled in attack and in defence?

3. Self-pass is allowed, are the selected players using it to their advantage?

4. The advent of artificial turf put more emphasis on speed, stamina, hard hits & accurate trapping since the ball comes true like on a billiard table; again how is adjustment done for this, is a different type of player (athletically fitter) being selected?

5. Reverse hits (not flicks) were not there 20 years ago. So don’t we do it, or don’t we strategize against it, or don’t we simply tackle it. If we do, how do we do it.

6. With no offside rule now is there a need to mark the last striker who sneaks in tightly or not?

7. Back passes & backward moving of the ball, which was previously not allowed, is fair game now. How best to use them?

8. Coming down to tactics, back passes, gang tackling, man to man marking, rapid ball rotation, which is in vogue now, were unheard of earlier. Since the Indian hockey culture is deficient in tactics & particularly man to man marking, how can selectors who never did it, be able to determine that their selected man is adequate in it? How do you “man mark”… from the front or the back?

9. Goalkeeping has seen its changes too; from being able to lie flat to now being penalized for it. The European Goalkeepers are known to make all the difference between victory and defeat. Isn’t it necessary to imbibe their strong points into our goal keeping or not?

10. Though traditionally not well used by India, rolling substitution is also vitally important. (Contrast our emphasis on “senior” players & “junior” players, the operative phrase implying seniors need to be treated differently!).

One really wonders what are ”the basics, which have remained in place” except flat stick traps, hard hits, dribbling and shooting at the goalie? Is it possible that Rajpal was just being kind to the selectors?

The ferociousness of the attack by Mr Ajitpal Singh on the current coach Mr Brasa raises not only the question of propriety (don’t you want the Indian team to do well by helping its coach?) but also a genuine query as to the reason behind it. Is there a hint of defensiveness or worse still, is it a way of covering up mistakes of improper selection in the run up to important matches & hence inadequate preparation of the team deflecting blame for an anticipated debacle? If even remotely true this would indeed be undermining the Indian Team, decidedly an unpatriotic act.

Lastly, since many years, the rest of the world, has junked the system of a group of selectors selecting a team for a coach who subsequently makes an effort to galvanize them into a team. Everywhere else (except in India and Pakistan) it is the coach who makes the ultimate game plan like a Commander in the battle field before and during a battle. So why not give a coach the ability to make his own selection according to his own scheme of things? If a team does not do well, is it the Coach’s head that rolls or that of the selectors? Would the selectors resign if their selection flops? Traditionally in India the coach gets the axe or resigns but the selectors (just like the administrators) remain ensconced forever. So why not let the person whose head is on the chopping block call the shots?

It is not fair to cast aspersions on anyone, least of all Rajpal, rather, one should understand that it is pointless to ask these questions to the serving Indian team captain, who, (being in a hostage situation), has no choice other than to give the replies he gave, or for that matter, the selectors, who sit pretty, jobs completely secure, and take pot shots with public statements against the coach after gagging him effectively and have a lot to lose if the current system of selection goes. The truth, however, as borne out by the results we have reaped over the last three decades, is glaring at us in the face. Only that the Hockey scenario has changed drastically over the last three decades, with India achieving precious little in the time frame, and very pertinently to the point being made, the India team managed by the legendary Ajit Pal Singh finished 12th i.e, last in the 1986 World Cup.