Champions Trophy: decision in a couple of days

By S. Thyagarajan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 26. Where, when or whether about the Champions Trophy, inarguably among the prestigious annual competitions on the agenda of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), is to be decided in the next two days. The FIH has set the deadline as September 28 to receive the bids from among the qualified countries after unilaterally deciding to shift the event from Lahore in the aftermath of the deteriorating security environment in the sub-continent following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11.

Quite predictably, the hockey establishment in Pakistan was taken aback by the FIH fiat. The reaction to the decision has been, expectedly perhaps, one of disappointment and anguish. Officials indicate that the FIH was compelled to act in the way it did because of the advise by the European Union to the people from that region to desist travelling to the sub- continent, or to areas near Afghanistan, which is likely to turn into a theatre of war in the coming days.

What has distressed the Pakistani establishment is the effort put in, both physical and financial, in the preparation of the event. Indisputably, the PHF deserves the commiseration of the hockey fraternity towards this. But how much approbation will it get over the move to seek compensation from the FIH for the loss? There will be a lot of debate on the issue if the PHF takes the subject of compensation seriously and pursue it to a logical conclusion.

It must be understood that the decision to shift from Lahore is inescapable, whatever be the shrillness in the objection by the Pakistani authorities. The cancellation of the cricket tour by New Zealand to Pakistan, and the indefinite postponement of the South Asian Games in Islamabad next month, have only proved that the FIH is right.

Who among the five of the six, which constitutes the elite for the Champions Trophy, will offer the alternate venue to Lahore remains to be seen. Speculation is rife that both Australia (Melbourne), and the Netherlands, whose infrastructure for such a contingency at Amstelveen is impeccable, are in the fray.

However, it is doubtful whether the reported preconditions put in by Australia to take the responsibility of hosting it will be met by the FIH. One of them is said to be related to the issue of waiver to the guarantee of U.S. $100,000.

Another question is with regard to the dates. While the FIH would be keen to hold the event between November 3 and 11 as programmed at Lahore, it is open to speculation whether the new host would be able to complete the arrangements within that time frame after September 28.

It is also not clear how the competing units are facing the situation of uncertainty although reports indicate that the training has been systematic in some of the countries like Holland and England. In fact the two are scheduled to play in an international match at Milton Keynes this week.

Interestingly, Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to get into the preparatory mode, programming a training camp for 45 probables from October 1, to participate even if the event is held abroad. For the moment, there seems to be no hint of doubt about the team being allowed to leave the shores. What the situation will be like in the next few weeks, however, is anybody's guess.

Shahbaz making another comeback

Observers however, are keenly watching the developments in Pakistan, especially in the light of the decision to recall the famous Shahbaz Ahmed as a player after forcing him to relinquish his post as the coach. One has lost count of the number of comebacks by this illustrious star in response to the nation's call during a crisis. But it also raises the question about the lack of depth in Pakistani hockey which once boasted of a dozen stars for every position on the field.

The Shahbaz factor may be a source to psyche the rest, smarting under the deplorable show in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament recently in Kuala Lumpur.

There has been severe inquisition in the Pakistani media about the quality of the performance by Pakistan at Kuala Lumpur where it began as the defending champion. Worrisome to many is the fitness factor of Shahbaz who has been out of competitive hockey for a few years now.

Launched in 1977 as a venture to elevate the quality of competition and restricted to the top six in the world, the Champions Trophy, a brain-child of Air Marshal Nur Khan, has contributed to a new course of hockey history.

Where does India stand in this present equation? An inevitable poser! If only India had held on to that one minute and 40 seconds at Sydney against Poland and made it to the last four, it would now be part of this prestigious group. India figured last in this tournament in 1996 as the host here, but took part as the qualifier a year earlier at Berlin after finishing fifth in the World Cup at Sydney in 1995. As the seventh in Sydney Olympics, India has an outside chance if one of the six withdraws, or is unable to take part owing to some extraordinary circumstances.

With the Afro-Asian Games remaining only in paper and in the imagination of some IOA officials, India has nothing more ahead than going all out to win the Champions Challenge event, the first venture earmarked as the qualifier for the Champions Trophy, scheduled in New Delhi in December.

But again there is a hint of apprehension over what the situation will be like in this region at that point of time. The IHF has planned to discontinue the camp now in Ludhiana and reconvene the same nearer to the Champions Challenge. There is also a line of thinking that India should be ready for the Champions Trophy itself if one of the six is unable to make it. The scenario is so confusing prompting so many suggestions and possibilities, but every avenue deserves a close scrutiny.

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