Pakistan Hockey Captain Muhammad Imran Sunday denied the media reports of about his stepping down from leading the hockey team.
Mohammad Imran, speaking to a news channel, said the news of him stepping down as Pakistan’s hockey team captain were baseless.
He added that if he decides to retire, he will make the announcement in front of the media while inform the nation about the facts.
“It is an honour for me to play for my country,” Imran said.
Earlier, major news channel reported that Imran had quit after his team’s poor performance at the World Hockey League (WHL).
Imran, who said he was given an absolute autonomy in executing his responsibilities by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), had informed the federation about his decision.
“Players were given all the necessary facilities but they failed to perform,” he said, adding that it is time to allow youngsters to come forward and play their role.
According to reports, the skipper had made up his mind to step down from the captain ship a day before, however, he announced it only after today’s match against France.
Chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui along with the other members of PHF’s selection committee had already resigned following the team’s disastrous showing at the WHL semi-finals as the team failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in its history.
Meanwhile, team’s head coach Shahnaz Shaikh also resigned from his post after pressure was mounting on him to accept responsibility for the team’s poor performance.
Further, resignations from some of the team’s senior players are also expected.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his concern over the performance of the country’s hockey team in the WHL.
The premier, who is also patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, said the team’s performance in 2016 Rio Olympics qualifiers was embarrassing.
He sought explanation from officials from the federation and the sports ministry and questioned how a three-time gold medallist team performed so poorly. He then directed them to work on bettering their performance and regain the national sport’s faded glory.
