Dr Ijaz
Ahmed assesses the best hockey team to represent Pakistan HOCKEY IN PAKISTAN
Dr Ijaz
Ahmed assesses the best hockey team to represent Pakistan
Naming an all time great eleven is an interesting as well as difficult task, more so in a game like hockey or football. In cricket figures and statistics play a major role but the same is not the case with hockey or soccer. So in these games one has to consider a number of factors for selecting a criterion.
Foremost of course is that of individual talent or technical brilliance. And in sub-continental style of hockey where positional play reigns supreme, technical brilliance largely means that a player must have most of the attributes associated with that particular position. Then comes the value of a person's individual talent to the team. How he adjusts his individual game to team's overall strategy or in simple worlds is he a good team man or not.
Another important evaluation factor is how he performs under 'pressure'. Then is his consistency over a long period at the highest level. Also considered is a player's individual contribution to successful teams at the highest level. This may raise a few eyebrows, that it is not the fault of an individual to be a member of a weak team.
Thin logic does carry some weight but it has to unfortunately be overlooked. Starting today we begin a series of evaluating, position by position the merits of the Pakistan hockey players.
For this slot the choice was mainly between Saleem Sherwani, Shahid Ali Khan and Mansoor Ahmed. The choice is very difficult. Sherwani represented Pakistan for a decade at a continuous stretch (1969-79). He was the first 'technically brilliant' goal keeper produced by Pakistan. Before him goal keeping was usually considered the weakest link in the Pakistan team. And any extraordinary performance by a Pakistani goalkeeper was because of courage and bravery rather than technical perfection. Sherwani initiated a new goalkeeping era in Pakistan which has more or less been sustained.
In Sherwani's period protective gear was almost non-existent. Then on grassy fields of that era there were more chances of unexpected bounce and speed as compared to todays true and smooth though faster surfaces.
Even his performance on an artificial turf during the last few years of his career was excellent.
Shahid Ali Khan represented Pakistan for a decade (1981-93) albeit with a gap of about three years (1986-89) when reasons for dropping him was anything but his form. That he made a comeback through sheer perseverance speaks of his courage and he was able to displace Mansoor as the No. 1 goalie of the team in 1990 (Mansoor had been first choice custodian almost since 1986). Shahid had a great big match temperament. Who can forget has stopping a Dutch penalty stroke in the 1982 World Cup semi-final which was only his second international and that too at the age of 17.
In Shahid's days there were more attacks and attempts on goals because of fast and true synthetic turf.
Like Shahid Ali Khan, Mansoor Ahmed also played for Pakistan for a long period having made his debut in 1985 and he is still in contention!
He too performed heroically on important occasions e.g. helping Pakistan win both the semi-final and final of the 1994 World Cup almost single-handedly in a penalty strokes shoot out. He was also named the world's best goalies.
As mentioned above Shahid displaced Mansoor in 1990 when the latter had worn the mantle of No. 1 for four years. This narrows the competition between Sherwani and Shahid. Sherwani gets the verdict as he was more consistent and had fewer bad days and made lesser mistakes. But it was a tough decision.
At least two others deserve honourable mention. Zakir Hussain who at an old age and after along absence (of almost half a decade!) from the active game performed beyond expectations in a victorious campaign of the 1968 Olympics.
Similarly Moinuddin was a hero of the Los Angeles (1984) Olympics. His dashes and horizontal falls to thwart penalty corner strikes are still fresh in the memory (in those days scoops and flicks on penalty corners were not allowed). His was a major contribution towards Pakistan winning the much coveted gold medal.
For this spot the choice is mainly between tow stalwarts. Munir Dar (1956-66) and Manzoorul Hasan (1973-82). A few others also shone like Muneer's younger brother Tanvir (1965-73) who was Pakistan's greatest penalty corner expert before Sohail Abbas of today. Then there was the late Akhtar Hussain who played for both India and Pakistan. One would also mention the late Captain Mohammad Bashir who performed outstandingly in the semi-final and final of 1960 Olympics.
But the initially mentioned duo stood out for their solid and reliable defensive skills which served their nation over a long period.
Both Muneer and Manzoor were great positional players who had excellent and decisive tackling and anticipatory ability.
Manzoor had the great Munawwar-uz-Zaman as his left back for most of this career. But the way he guided and groomed Qasim Zia, a complete novice, in 1982 World Cup as left full back speaks volumes for this calibre.
But Muneer had something extra. In his days Pakistani goal keepers were not of latter days' standard, so there was the extra pressure on full back Muneer who was naturally very athletic and fast and extremely difficult t beat.
Both were good converters of penalty corners.
It was a difficult decision but Dar gets a close verdict. Another one with credit has to be Qasim Zia who switched to the right position after Manzoor ul Hasan's retirement in 1982. He filled the right back position adequately especially during 1984 LA Olympics where his role as senior full back is worth recalling.
One of the most difficult positions. A left full back has to tackle the on coming forward, attacking him from his wrong side of his body.
The first great left full back to play for Pakistan was Asghar Ali who represented the national team during the first half of the fifties. He was an efficient and neat tackler with good clearance capabilities.
Brig. M. H. Atif (1952-64) manned this position for a very long time. He was towering figure and had a long reach. He marshalled Pakistan's defence for a long time.
Pakistan's all time great left full back was none other than the late Munawwar-uz0Zaman (1971-80). He had all the attributes of a great full back. Excellent and decisive checking, good clearance and sound understanding with a fellow right back, who for most part of his career was Manzoor-ul-Hasan. But when Manzoor suddenly became unfit before the 1978 World Cup, Munawwar guided Ehsanullah, a virtual new comer, very well. In winning that World Cup Pakistan's defence conceded just four goals.
Atif had the advantage of great Habib Kiddie as his left half but Munawwar was not so lucky. Apart from Fazal-ul-Rahman in first two years of his international career, he never had a great left half working with him.
Like Atif he was also a good scorer off the penalty corners. In addition he had the knack of scoring crucial goals in important matches especially against arch rivals India which was a great hockey power in those days. Who can forget his match winning goal in the semi-final of the 1971 World Cup vs India? The feat becomes even more interesting when you learn that this was only his second international match and the first ever penalty corner strike! He followed this up by scoring crucially against India in 1974 and 1978 Asiad finals.
Talking of penalty corner and Munawwar another name which comes to one's mind is Khalid Bashir (1087-93). He was a sound left full back and in last couple of years of his career he developed into the most lethal striker of penalty corners. Incidentally it was Munawwar who overnight brought about this transformation in Khalid after becoming coach of national team in 1991. He went into minute details and even got Khalid to change his stick. The results were outstanding.
For the right half position three names stand out:
Dr. Ghulam Rasool was a very hardworking half, equally efficient in both defence and attack. His combination with right-in (Hameedi or Zaka) and right out (Noor Alam) in traditional sub-continent right trio attack was very good. Similarly has ability to fall back to help the defence was also excellent as he had great recovery.
Rasheedul Hasan was also a right half in the same mould, moving out well when in attack but rarely letting his defence down where he had the advantage of his brother Manzoorul Hasan at the right back position for first half of his career (his performance got somewhat poorer after big brother's departure).
But the man who outshone everyone was legendary Saeed Anwer. Apart from all the qualities of a natural right half mentioned above he brought to his play a special kind of magic.
When passing the ball up it was very difficult for opponents to judge whether the pass would go to his right in or right out. So much so that other teams were forced to cover both the right in and right out sections.
Even this did not deter Saeed who had sufficient ball control and dribbling ability to assume the role of attacker himself.
In defence, he never used to cover the rival left out spot but had an uncanny ability to anticipate and intercept the pass going to him.
M. Usman of the present team began his international career on a highly promising note. His play in his debut tournament: 1994 champions trophy and then in World Cup in the same year was really out of top drawer. His combination with right in and right out, his own occasional individual thrusts down the flank plus his excellent recovery and sliding tackles in defence were indications of future greatness.
But his performance gradually declined and especially his unnecessary ventures into opposing territory and a tendency to commit unforced errors in defence often let his team down.
It was a straight one to one contest between two legends, both of whom had long and distinguished stints. They were Anwaar Ahmed Khan (1956-65) and Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool (1972-82).
Anwaar Ahmed Khan was pilot in real sense. His distribution of ball to his forwards was very precise and very deceptive for his opponents. Similarly in defence, his anticipation was tremendous and his long reach gave him a great advantage. His ability to fall back to help the defence was also immense.
Akhtar Rasool was also a good recovery centre half with excellent distribution of ball. Unlike Anwaar he was not very lucky regarding wing halves who played wit him. They kept on changing throughout and apart from right half Rasheed ul Hasan, during last few years of his career, no one else could be termed extraordinary.
But unlike Akhtar who touched heights of greatness only in the latter half of his career, Anwaar was a class act throughout his illustrious international career! And therefore Anwaar gets the nod.
Another centre half who really made his mark was Riaz Ahmed. Riaz was an important member of Pakistan's first grand Slam winning squad (1968 Olympics, 1971 World Cup and the Asian games that followed).
Like the left full back position, the left half is also a difficult position as left half has to counter the opposition's right side attack on his wrong foot and in sub-continental positional play he often has to play the role of very last defender, even covering the goal keeper.
Outstanding left halves who served Pakistan for a considerable period of time are: Habib Ali Kiddie (1950-64), Fazal-ur-Rahmad (1965-72) Naeem Akhtar (1982-88), Khawaja Junaid (1987-95).
Fazal-ur-Rahman and his nephew Naeem Akhtar were both unique left halves. They practically negated the conventional notion that a left half is just a defensive position. Bot were attacking left halves with superb ball control and speed. And they used to have frequent forays into the opponent's areas as well. But at the same time they were solid in defence and almost always quick to fall back in time to thwart the attack from the opposition's right side.
Fazal was an outstanding player of his era and was also named in world XI after the 1971 World Cup. But in his mid-career when he should have been at his peak i.e. during the 1968 Olympics, the other left-half in the squad, Gulraiz Akhtar was preferred over him for the entire tournament. The reason was that Fazal's over ambitious attacking play occasionally let Pakistan down. Naeem Akhtar only played regularly from 1983-85, mainly due to reasons other than his on the field performance.
But the man who held the fort for as long as fourteen years was the little genius called Habib Ali Kiddies. He was a true left half in the traditional South Asian mould, seldom indulging in acts not in conformity with his prime job of defence.
In his presence the team did not have to bother about any lapse at this important defensive position.
Another player who was considered a safe bet at this position was Khawaja Junaid. Having started as centre-half in 1987 Junaid was a brilliant left half form 1989 right till 1995. The reverse sliding tackle was especially his trademark and a sight to cherish. He was also named in world team after the 1994 World Cup.
However, the late Habib Ali Kiddie is the overall winner here.
For the winger on the right side four persons are all important members of Pakistan's glorious triumphant eras are in contention. First among them was Noor Alam (1956-62) of the triumphant 1960 Olympic squad. He had good sprint, excellent stoppage and strong crosses into the centre. Islahuddin (1969-78) only started playing as right out from the 1972 Olympics.
He had lighting speed, the ability to cross and in the latter part of his career, especially as captain, he become a good scorer during the crucial stages of matches as in both the semi-final of the 1978 World Cup. In addition his ability to thwart penalty corner shrinkers like Litjens of Holland and Stroedter of Germany due to his speedy runs was a great help for the team and also reflected his great courage.
Kalimullah (19-86), like all great wingers was also very speedy and had a good thrust. He the rare ability to 'cut in' from the gallery in a very effective manner. He had an excellent big tournament and big match temperament.
Another distinction was that he was a regular scorer throughout his career. He scored match winning goal in the finals of the 1984 Olympics as well as 1985 Asia Cup. But the man who edges out Islah and Kaleem as Pakistan's all time greatest right out is Khalid Mahmood (1963-73).
He had excellent ball control, beautiful dodges and his crosses were the most precise and m3easured rather than only powerful. He had an uncanny ability to send a goal scoring pass in the crucial stages as in the 1968 Olympics final. He was rarely off-form during his long career. Most of the right outs are usually stereotype relying mainly on speed and thrust but Khalid was something special. He had a unique graceful style while moving with the ball which has not been found in any right winger before and since. Some old timers also regard Masood Ahmed of Pakistan's first ever Olympic squad of 1948 (popularly called horse because of his speed) very highly.
Many a great right inners have played for Pakistan. First it was Brig. Abdul Hamedd Hameedi (1948-64), who played in as many as four Olympics (last tow as captain). He did not possess great stick work but it was his tactical appreciation (so vital for a right in, in the Asian style of hockey where the position is considered a schemer in the forward line) which was exceptional.
He was also a great scorer; in fact was Pakistan's all time top scorer in the Olympics. Another special quality was his ability to score form right out crosses. Generally it is the spearhead or the left in who cash on crosses from the right wing. Then there was Zarauddin (1956-66) who spent quite a few years as Hameedi's understudy before becoming Pakistan's regular right in. he was a great juggler and required very little space to dodge past packed defenses. But he sometimes disappointed on big occasions e.g. he missed quite a few goal scoring chances in the 1966 Asaid final vs India (which Pakistan lost 0-1).
Then came Ashfaq Ahmed (1966-71) who in his short career became on important member of the Grand Slam winning squad (1968 Olympics, 1970 Asiad and 71 World Cup). He had superb ball control and dodges and was part of legendary right trio (right out Khalid Mahmood and right half Saeed Anwer being the other two).
However the man who out shone all of them and is now considered a yardstick for measuring a right inner's ability is none other than Manzoor Hussain Junior (1975-84). He was a complete player. Exceptional stick work and ball distribution were his hall marks. Measured through passes to right out were memorable. Then there were goal getting passes to the centre forward and left ins positions (who can forget his pass to Hasan Sardar to get the only goal of the 1984 Olympic semi-final).
He was himself a good scorer. His goal against Germany in the 1982 World Cup final (where he dodged past four defenders) and in 1976 Quaid-e-Azam centenary tournament final against Holland in extra time were great individual efforts.
On figures and records alone, four deserve attention, though the final selection was never in doubt.
Both Rasheed Jr. and Kamran Ashraf were great scorers. They topped Pakistan's scorer sheet many a times. Both were however dependent forwards and their own dribbling and dodging ability was no match to the other two.
They were great opportunists and could score from almost any position or angle. Rasheed Jr. in particular has some unbelievable goals to his credit. No wonder he was called "King of the D."
Great Abdul Waheed was not only a heavy scorer (he still holds Pakistan's record of most goals in a single important tournament with 17 goals in the 1962 Asiad) but was also a fine dribbler. Many people regard him a trend setter for he was the first centre forward to fall back to help the defence.
But none of the above could challenge the 'legend' of the 'wizard' Hasan Sardar. With his unique kangaroo like posture while moving with the fall he used to weave patterns around the defence in a manner simply out of this world. He won the Player of the Tournament award in 1982 World Cup, 1984 Olympics, 1982 Asia Cup and 1982 Asian Games with Pakistan winning all these four big title tournaments!
Can one expect anything more than that! Not only that, he is a holder of Pakistan's all time record tally in a single world cup with 11 goals in 1982 (which is incidentally also the record for any forward in the world in a single edition of the World Cup). In the Olympics too, he shares with Aziz Malik a record for most goals by a Pakistani in a single Olympiad (10 goals).
Hasan is also Pakistan's all time highest scorer with 150 goals in authentic senior international matches. But it is not the simple number but the artistic beauty behind them that will always keep Hasan in the people's memory.
A video titled "Wizard' is in a collection of sports library of Cologne, Germany. This video is a collection of Hasan's goals.