Karachi: Pakistan's humiliating 9-2 defeat to Holland in the Champions Trophy hockey has evoked scathing criticism in the media, with one paper linking the thrashing to a wild beach party enjoyed by the "indisciplined" players on the eve of the match.
"Instead of resting in their team hotel and preparing for the match by focusing on the Dutch, senior Pakistan players spent the day swimming and enjoying on a Barcelona beach," a report in the mass circulation Jang newspaper said.
"As a result, the players were drained, tired and focusless," it said.
Three-time Champions Trophy winners Pakistan conceded the first of the nine goals in the 38th second before suffering their worst defeat in the tournament's history on Tuesday.
The drubbing ended Pakistan's hopes of reaching the final of the tournament, being staged at Terrassa, Spain, and left them struggling to avoid relegation.
"The attitude of (goalkpeeper) Salman Akbar was embarrassing and unsporting when he threw his gloves in the wash basin and then kicked the door of the locker room after he was replaced after the first half (in which he conceded four goals)," the newspaper commented.
"The (senior) players are a bunch of indisciplined characters who are totally out of chief coach Asif Bajwa's control," it added.
The team's thrashing by the Netherlands has given a new dimension to the goings-on in Pakistan hockey, passing through testing times after PHF president Tariq Kirmani revealed that secretary Musarratullah Khan had resigned from his post.
However, Khan has been asked to continue till a new secretary is appointed in September.
Khan is accused of human trafficking on European tours besides manipulating hockey affairs to protect his position in the federation as well as in International Hockey Federation.
Insiders say senior players Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmed had fallen out with Khan in 2004 that eventually forced them to hang their boots only to wear them again earlier this year.
A total of 45 Punjab Hockey Association clubs have threatened to boycott PHF activities if Khan was allowed to quit his post while Sindh Hockey Association has urged Tariq Kirmani to immediately announce Khan's successor before the secretary caused more damage to the sport.
Federal Sports Minister Mian Shamim Haider summoned the high officials of the ministry and Pakistan Sports Board and instructed them to get a reply from the PHF on the debacle in Terrassa.
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