Sohail Abbas fast losing his aura of fiery drag- flicker

By Tushar Bhaduri in New Delhi

IN HIS pomp, Sohail Abbas was the most feared drag- flicker in hockey, but there are enough indications that a stellar international career is on its last legs.

With over 300 international goals to his credit, Abbas’s name has become synonymous with penalty corners and has given oppositions sleepless nights for well over a decade.

But the way things have gone so far at the World Cup, one would have to conclude that the 32- yearold is finding the going tough.

Pakistan earned 11 penalty corners in their first three games, but managed to capitalise on only three of them – a clear indication that Abbas’s magic is on the wane.

A conversion rate of 27 percent pales against those of England and the Netherlands, who have converted half of their penalty corners.

Even Pakistan legend Hassan Sardar seems to suggest that the end is nigh.

“ One is a hero only as long as one performs on the field, and Abbas has not been doing so of late.” Sardar, acclaimed as one of Pakistan’s greatest forwards, is a current national selector and had a role in selecting Abbas for the World Cup even when all indications pointed to the fact that his best was behind him.

It must be a cause for concern that after Abbas was recalled from retirement earlier as well and the Pakistan Hockey Federation ( PHF) had to eat humble pie again when they included him in the squad even though he did not attend national camps.

Sardar said that Abbas is a national hero and what he has achieved cannot be undermined.

“ He has scored more than 300 international goals, which is no joke.” Sardar, who won the 1982 World Cup in Mumbai and gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1982 Delhi Asiad, slamming a hat- trick in the 7- 1 demolition of India in the final, said Abbas held few surprises for defences anymore.

“ Abbas has been playing at the top level for a long time and the other teams have begun to read his drag- flicks after studying countless video tapes and are ready for what he has on offer,” Sardar said on the sidelines of the World Cup.

Sardar said Abbas could learn a thing or two from his Dutch counterpart Taeke Taekema.

“ He also has had a long career but is still scoring at a great rate,” he said about the drag- flicker, who opened his World Cup campaign with a hat- trick against Argentina.