Interview

23-04 Rehan Butt withdraws

Interview Date : 2010-04-23

Interview By: Dawn

Description :

While striker Rehan Butt has decided against skipping the Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament, three others who wanted rest from the contest, have been advised by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to make their request in writing.

PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa told reporters here on Wednesday that Rehan Butt met with him to withdraw his earlier decision of not joining the national training camp to be held in Karachi from Thursday, as he wanted rest.

“Rehan confirmed his availability and as his name is already included in the list of probables, I asked him to report to camp in Karachi,” Bajwa said.

The three others, namely, captain Zeeshan Ashraf, Waseem Ahmad and Akhtar Ali, are also reluctant to join the camp.

“It is the decision of the players that they want rest. They can take such a decision but to get permission they must make the request in writing for the PHF president to review before making his decision,” he said.

Asked if a written request in this regard meant that they would get the permission, Bajwa said it was up to the PHF president, but it was the procedure that they must follow.

The secretary dispelled the impression that they could take any disciplinary action against the players for refusing to play in the forthcoming tournament.

“Their action does not demand disciplinary action as the Pakistan captain, too, is among them. It is also a fact that they have all played a good number of matches and may be uncomfortable,” he said.

The secretary also denied that the players were making the refusal to go abroad to play league hockey in Europe.

“I don’t think they will prefer league hockey over the national assignment,” he said.

The entire Pakistan hockey team tendered its resignation after Pakistan finished 12th in the World Cup last month. But they withdrew their decision on the PHF’s advice later on. Zeeshan Ashraf was the last one to do so before coming back to international hockey after which the boys’ names were included in the probables for the camp announced on April 18.

To a question, the PHF secretary said that a good back up of almost 17 players was also selected for camp, who would now have a better chance to be included in the side.

Meanwhile, manager and coach Khawaja Junaid said that he would try his level best to turn the team into one-unit, something which he thought was lacking in the World Cup.

“We have little time to do this but if I succeed in building the team as one-unit, it may be the key to our success,” he said.

He said the tournament, which will be played in Ipoh, Malaysia, from May 6 to 16 was a good competition as they were expecting tough competition from teams like Australia and India.

Dawn