Long gone are the days when the Pakistan hockey team was feared on the field. These days, unfortunately, they have just become a laughing stock. The team fails to qualify for the Olympics consistently, the rankings have dropped significantly, there are lack of stars in the team, and the performances can’t be talked about much.
Pakistan Hockey Coach Resigns
Now, just a few days prior to the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China, the Pakistani hockey team has faced a significant setback, and by all means, Pakistan would fail badly in the tournament. As per a report in GeoSuper, head coach Roelant Oltmans has refused to coach the team. It seems that the Dutchman wanted a long-term contract with the team, but the PHF was only interested in handing out an event-by-event contract to him. Both the parties, eventually, couldn’t reach a consensus.
Top Players Missing From Asian Champions Trophy
The report further said, that their vice-captain Abu Bakar is yet to receive a visa for China, who is currently playing league hockey in Australia. Players like Murtaza Yaqoob, Ehtisham Islam, and Abdul Rehman are playing hockey in Europe, while Arbaz Ahmed has opted out of the tournament.
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That only means, six senior players from Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where Pakistan had reached the final in the absence of many top teams, would be absent from the Asian Champions Trophy. The team, meanwhile, is set to play their first match against Malaysia on September 8.
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