Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran stepped down, after the national team failed to qualify for next year’s Rio Olympics Games, following their latest defeat in the World Hockey League to France.
Imran followed the footsteps of the chief selector, Islahuddin Siddiqui, who also resigned from his post following Pakistan’s debacle.
In what seemed to be another attempt of salvage by the the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Imran said in a statement, he was given absolute autonomy in executing his responsibilities by the federation and he has informed the PHF about his decision.
“Players were given all the necessary facilities but they failed to perform,” he said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concern over the hockey team’s performance and PHF affairs, after Pakistan was beaten by Ireland and squandered their last opportunity to play in the Olympics.
The string of resignations had surfaced, after the formation of a five-member inquiry committee, by the Prime Minister, who has given the committee a week to submit a preliminary report, with strong indications that an ad-hoc committee will be appointed to run hockey affairs.
The committee that includes former hockey heavyweights Colonel Mudassar Asghar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Khawaja Junaid and is headed by the Secretary of sports Ejaz Chaudhary, will hold its first meeting on Monday.
Chief selector, Islahuddin Siddiqui, while resigning along with member Kamran Ashraf, said, the team had failed to live up to expectations in the World Hockey League.
“We are hurt and disappointed and we take responsibility and there is now a need for a clean up in hockey in Pakistan. New faces must be given chance to set things right,” the former Pakistan captain said.
Two other selectors, Ayaz Mahmood and Khalid Bashir had resigned a day earlier, after the defeat to Great Britain in the quarter-finals.
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