ISLAMABAD - Former hockey team captain Shakeel Abbasi Tuesday expressed utter disappointment over his exclusion from the national team without any reason.
Talking to The Nation, Abbasi, veteran of three Olympics, two world cups and a number of Champions Trophies and other major events, said: “I joined the national junior team in 1998 and was performing exceptionally right from the beginning, but the reasons best known to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), I was not considered for Junior Asia Cup in Malaysia in 2000. I was finally picked for senior team in 2003 and was skipper of Pakistan junior team in 2005 junior World Cup in Netherlands. Ever since, I was with national team till 2014 as a regular member.
“I was declared two-time best player of the champions’ trophy, but sadly whenever I managed to win international awards, all of a sudden, I used to be dropped from the national side, instead of being recognized for my services for my country,” he added.
“I was expecting to be part of national team and play major role in helping green shirts to get a berth in 2016 Rio Olympics, but I was not considered for Olympics qualifiers in Belgium. I feel being a senior most player and genuine goal scorer, I must be automatic choice for the event, but surprisingly, I was shown the door without any solid reason,” he lamented.
“Who will answer a simple question that why the selectors or federation deprive me of representing my country in important events and help my country in registering crucial victories. I deserve better treatment form the PHF. It is my right to seek reasons behind my exclusion. The time is high when a natural goal scorer like me should have been part of the touring team, as Arsalan Qadir is also not selected and was given reserves berth. The team badly needs a goal scorer, who may score goals confidently,” he said. He added he was still super fit and could deliver for the team exceptionally.
“Our pool is very tough. Head coach Shahnaz Sheikh has transformed the team very well, but I feel sorry for him, as he is the one who detected my talent and gave breakthrough to a number of other brilliant players, but I feel he is completely hapless and not given powers. Shahnaz had changed the fortunes of national team, as prior to his appointment, the team was on losing streak and hardly made any significant achievement, but soon after his arrival, the same bunch of players had managed to play finals of high-profile events. If the PHF keeps on treating the senior players in this way, then juniors can never get much-needed confidence and chance to learn playing alongside the seniors,” he added.
“My sincere prayers are with the team and I hope the boys will do their best to qualify for the Rip Olympics. If green caps fail to qualify for the Olympics, it will prove disastrous for the national game,” he said.
To a query, Shakeel replied: “I along with 6 or 7 other players were playing international league, prior to Champions Trophy. Like others, I also requested the PHF to exempt me from training camp because I was playing league in Malaysia. Others were given relaxation but my request fell on deaf ears.”
“It hurts, when even in India, I was named as captain of my team in the league, but the PHF and selectors are not ready to pick me a member of national team. If same treatment continues with players like me, it will set a bad example for the juniors and also dent hopes of regaining lost hockey glory. I hope the selectors will follow merit and provide the deserving players due chance to represent the country,” Shakeel concluded.