Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
when demand increases .... players specialy pak players announce retirement . so thr value appreciates ... players and sports are just like products in a market now... simple law of economics...
once thr demand increases they'll be back :p
my two cents worth...:)
Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
I think Sohail Abbas's decision makes sense. He has achieved whatever he set out to achieve in International Hockey, but records will not put food on his table. He will now play league/club hockey and make some money to sustain him and his kids for the rest of his life. At 28, he has a few years left to actually make a living. I think Shahbaz Ahmed did the same when he retired early from the game. Both are/were brilliant players and deserve all they can get.
Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
Pakistan: Hockey players decision to reverse retirement plan lauded
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee has welcomed the decision of penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas and Muhammad Waseem for reversing their decision of retirement. “We appreciate their decision and the announcement made by them that they are available for selection,” said chief selector Chaudhary Akhtar Rasool while addressing a press conference here Thursday.Sohail and Waseem announced their retirements during the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament in December last year. However, the chief selector said the return of both the players was conditional to their physical fitness and they had to appear in the trials.
He said both the players made hasty decision without consulting the PHF as they could still play for sometime in the senior team. “They have played in the recently concluded premier hockey league in India and they have shown encouraging performance which reveals that still they have the ability and age to play competitive hockey,” he maintained. Responding to a question, he said it was a wrong impression that the PHF was taking short term measures to boost it’s team by recalling these players rather grooming young players. “If any player is fit and can play, he is welcome and we will include him in the side on the basis of his fitness and performance,” said Pakistan’s former hockey captain. Akhtar Rasool said even former captain and forward Muhammad Nadeem ND, goalkeeper Ahmad Alam and full back Ali Raza can also stage a come back and the PHF had no objection
Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
PHF may invite Sohail, Waseem for training camp
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan are expected to invite retired short corner specialist Sohail Abbas and midfielder Waseem Ahmed for a training camp scheduled to get underway later this month in preparation for a Test series against India being planned to raise funds for tsunami victims.While talking to this correspondent on Sunday, a top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official did not rule out the option of including Sohail, Waseem and a couple of other players who were sidelined after the national team finished fifth at last summer’s Olympic Games in Athens, in the probables’ list."We are keeping all options open," says PHF Secretary Brigadier (R) Musarratulah Khan. "There is a big possibility that we may invite players like Sohail and Waseem for the training camp which is scheduled to start within a couple of weeks," he adds.
Pakistan are scheduled to play a series of three Test matches against India sometimes next month in a bid to raise funds for the tsunami victims.According to the plans being made by the PHF and their Indian counterparts a match each would be played in Pakistan and India and the third one would be hosted by Sri Lanka in Colombo.Officials of the PHF, Indian Hockey Federation, Sri Lankan Hockey Association and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) are all involved in finalising the details of the series.Meanwhile, a more pressing issue for the national hockey officials is how to persuade their biggest star Sohail Abbas to return to international hockey.Sohail, world’s highest goal scorer and Waseem Ahmed decided to retire from international hockey after last December’s Champions Trophy in Lahore. Waseem led the national team in the elite six-nation tournament while Sohail was the vice-captain.
Both Sohail and Waseem have been Pakistan’s key players in recent years and national team officials are of the view they can still play vital roles for Pakistan in international competitions."Sohail and Waseem should be in the team," says Pakistani manager Samiullah Khan. "They are both very experienced and it would be a setback for us if they decide against coming back."It seems quite likely that when Pakistan will announce their list of probables for the tsunami fund-raising series against India the names of Sohail and Waseem would be there. Pakistan are expected to invite 30 odd players for the training camp that would serve as a launch pad for Pakistan’s 2006 World Cup preparations.
Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
Another sad news 
Can’t they get him a good sponser so he can earn while giving his blood and sweat for the country.
Re: Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmad retire from International Hockey
Well both were like back bone for pak Hockey especially Abbas. Now Pak hockey will not be that gr8 as it was. yes really its a sad news i dont know y Sohail did so..