Pakistan game needs major surgery, says chief

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

KARACHI, Dec 14 (Reuters) Pakistan hockey needs a radical overhaul if it is to move forward from its latest debacle at the Asian Games in Doha, a senior Pakistan Hockey Federation official said today.

Pakistan lost for the first time to China in the semi-finals of the Asian Games hockey competition and have not won a major international title since 1994.

Malaysian hockey coach Nur Azmi has also accused Pakistan of fixing a match with Japan, which ended in a goaless draw and kept his team out of the semi-finals.

''The truth is Pakistan hockey needs radical surgery. This is the best lot we have,'' PHF secretary Akhtar-ul-Islam told Reuters.

Pakistan won Olympic gold in 1960, '68 and '84 but have not taken a hockey title since winning the Champions Trophy and World Cup in 1994.

''We are now going to announce a new team management before our bilateral series against India in March-April, 2007,'' Islam said.

''We might not go for a foreign coach but certainly we will appoint a foreign trainer and physiotherapist,'' the PHF official said, adding that they believed many of their problems came from fitness concerns about playing on artificial playing surfaces.

Pakistan, whose last two major titles came under Dutch coach Hans Jorritsma, overlooked five of their top players for the Games after they snubbed a training camp to play European league hockey.

Islam said the PHF would not panic and turn to senior players.

''Even when they were playing we won nothing of importance in the last few years so it is best we move on and prepare a team under a new management for 2008 Olympics,'' he added.

REUTERS SAM BST1849

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