Hockey legend Samillah Khan opined that Pakistan team achieved nothing during the month-long European tour as they tried limited number of youngsters. "Pakistan team hardly gained anything from European trip with 80 percent old lot and 20 percent youngsters in their line-up," he told APP in an interview on Tuesday.
"PHF wasted the golden opportunity to test and groom young talent against the European teams and build them for London Olympics 2012," Samiullah, titled Flying Horse for his dazzling speed and run at left flank, observed.
"Whatever results Pakistan hockey team achieved were not impressive," he commented. The majority of the players in the team for the tour were old and senior players which was not wise," he added. He said Pakistan finished at the bottom in four-nation event and were beaten comprehensibly against the Netherlands and Belgium during the test matches.
"What PHF and selector achieved by fielding the old guards, many of whom had played over 300 internationals," he questioned.
He said Pakistan needed fresh blood in the team and they should have been tested in larger number instead of veteran players. "It should have been 50-50 in senior and youngsters selection which may have paid better dividends," Samiullah, who represented Pakistan in 1976 Montreal Olympics and was member of the team which won the 1982 World Cup in Bombay, he said.
"Pakistan needed a good goalkeeper, a strong player in deep defence, a couple of young mid-fielders and 2-3 energetic and talented in forwards," he reckoned.
He expressed hope that PHF Selectors will focus on sending more youngsters for the proposed four-nation events in India and Australia.
Commenting on Pakistan team's chances in the Champions Trophy, Samiullah Khan said this is the toughest event with six matches in nine days against the top six teams.
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