Hockey: Pakistan's team quits after suffering 'shame' of defeat

NEW DELHI - Any ignominy felt by the Black Sticks in having to play off for 9th-10th place against South Africa at the World Cup overnight is nothing compared with the turmoil in Pakistan after their embarrassing 3-2 overtime loss to Canada in the play-off for 11th-12th (last) place here.

The entire team announced their international retirement as they licked the wooden spoon following the worst showing at a World Cup by the four-time winners who won only one of six games here - 2-1 over Spain in pool play.

Pakistan's coach and manager and the selection panel did not even get time to quit - they were sacked. "The players, including captain Zeeshan Ashraf have announced their retirements and intimated this to the Pakistan Hockey Federation president," a spokesman said.

"All the players in the team accept their responsibility for the humiliating performance in the World Cup and have decided to retire."

"I have sacked the team management and the national selection committee because of our shameful performance in the World Cup," said Pakistan Hockey Federation president Qasim Zia.

Hockey is the national game of Pakistan but the national side's fortunes have foundered in recent years. Even before the loss to Canada - a team ranked four places lower ( 11) coming into the tournament - those in high places were demanding answers, with officials and players from the being summoned to appear before a parliamentary body to try to explain their display in New Delhi.

Fingers are being pointed with former Pakistan captain Islahuddin, 63, also a past national team coach and manager, describing his country's performance at the World Cup as "shameful".

"This is a big debacle for Pakistan as they lost to India and suffered their first defeat to South Africa in 63 years," said Islahuddin. "It was a shameful performance by the team and responsibility lay with the team management."

Jamshed Dasti, who heads Pakistan's National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sport said: "Even before the humiliating loss to Canada we were extremely disappointed with the team's performance at the World Cup and believed some major changes should be made both in the team's composition and management."

Pakistan led twice, but let the Canadians back into the game before a Scott Tupper penalty corner produced the golden-goal winner.