Reacting strongly to Hockey India president Narinder Batra’s demand for an unconditional apology from Pakistan players for their boorish behaviour during last year’s Champions Trophy, former coach Shahnaz Sheikh termed it as an excuse to deny their players from playing in the HIl.
Batra issued a statement on Monday saying,”I would love to have Pakistan players but not with the kind of behaviour they displayed in the Champions Trophy. And they have shown no regret of that incident in writing or otherwise. I don’t want to politicise the issue but that kind of behaviour was unacceptable. least we need an apology from them.”
“I am really disappointed at the statement given by Batra because I know him personally and he is a nice man. I think someone put these words in his mouth. I hope Pakistan players give India a befitting reply when we next meet them in a match,” an angry Sheikh told.
“I don’t understand the need for this statement now perhaps it is one way for Hockey India to find another excuse for not allowing our players to appear in the HIl, which is a letdown for them,” he said.
Shahnaz was the coach of the Pakistan hockey team when the unsavoury incident happened in Bhubaneshwar with some of his players making obscene gestures at the spectators after defeating arch-rivals India in the semi-finals.
Oltmans praises new rules
New Delhi: Indian hockey’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans on Tuesday gave thumbs up to the new goal-scoring rule to be introduced in next year’s Hockey India league, but felt if the system is used at the international level, world champion Australia will definitely have an edge over others.
“The nice thing about hockey is that it’s always searching for new ideas, new developments.,” Oltmans said.
According to the new rules to be introduced in the fourth edition of HIl, two goals will be awarded for every field goal to encourage skillful and tactical hockey. To curb rough tackles and maintain discipline among players, two goal points will be awarded to every penalty-stroke goal scored other than resulting from penalty corner.