9 months ago
Pakistan Hockey Team Travels to Dhaka Without Head Coach Amid Selection Dispute
Imagine a school sports team getting ready for a big game.
The coach picks the players, but the school leaders decided to add some players the coach didn't choose, even though they were late to practice.
The coach got upset and said, 'I can't help the team get better if I don't get to pick the players!'
So, he decided not to go with the team to the game.
The team still went to play in a different country, and someone else will be in charge for now.
The people in charge of the team say they just wanted to let players who had other jobs play, and they made new rules for them.
Pakistan's men's hockey head coach Tahir Zaman refused to travel with the team to Dhaka for a three-match series.
The dispute centers on alleged interference by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in player selection matters.
Zaman objected to the last-minute inclusion of two players, Rana Wahid and Hammad Anjum, who joined the training camp late.
The team departed for Dhaka without Zaman, with team manager Mohammad Usman set to handle head coach duties.
This series is crucial for Pakistan's World Cup qualifiers, as they missed the Asia Cup which also served this purpose.
- Who
- Pakistan men's national hockey team, Head Coach Tahir Zaman, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)
- What
- The Pakistan men's hockey team traveled to Dhaka for a three-match series without their head coach, Tahir Zaman, due to a dispute over player selection.
- Where
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- When
- The team departed on Sunday, with the dispute arising at the last moment.
- Why
- Head Coach Tahir Zaman refused to travel, citing interference by the PHF in selection matters, specifically the last-minute inclusion of players who joined the training camp late.
Head Coach Tahir Zaman
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)
Player Selection
Head Coach Tahir Zaman
The head coach believes latecomers to the training camp should not be included in the national squad and that the head coach must have the final say in selections for the team to improve.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)
The PHF secretary stated that about 10 players joined the camp late due to prior commitments and foreign league contracts, and the federation agreed to impose cash penalties on them.
Key facts
- Event
- Three-match hockey series in Dhaka
- Purpose of Series
- World Cup qualifiers
- Reason for Pakistan's Participation
- Missed the Asia Cup in August-September which also served as World Cup qualifiers
- Head Coach's Absence
- Tahir Zaman refused to travel due to selection interference
- Interim Coach
- Team manager Mohammad Usman will handle head coach duties
Quotes
Rana Mujahid
PHF secretary
“Tahir had taken the stand that latecomers to the training camp in Islamabad should not be included in the national squad.”
rediff.com
“Tahir objected to the inclusion of Rana Wahid and Hammad Anjum both of whom joined the camp late due to their contract with foreign leagues.”
rediff.com
A source close to Tahir
A source close to Tahir Zaman
“the Olympian was clear that unless players are aware that the head coach has the final say, there is no way the team can show improvement.”
rediff.com
