Four suspended national team hockey players, under the banner of the Hockey Players’ Welfare Association, claimed on Tuesday that they were suspended unethically and demanded a fresh inquiry into the Asia Cup debacle. Midfielder Russell Mahmud Jimmy, goalkeeper Zahid Hossain and defender Imran Hasan Pintu were banned for three years from the national team and two years from domestic hockey, while forward Kamruzzaman Rana was handed a two-year ban from the national team and one year for domestic competitions by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation.
The bans followed an investigation into Bangladesh’s poor performance at the Asia Cup in August and came against the backdrop of player unrest during the pre-tournament camp.
HPWA treasurer Tabith A Noor pointed his finger at four BHF officials: general secretary Khaja Rahamatullah, joint secretary Eusuf Ali and members Mamunur Rashid and Ehsan Rana.
‘Four people are involved in this conspiracy. We demand a fresh probe,’ Tabith said during the press conference on Tuesday.
HPWA general secretary Ariful Haque Prince, who earlier received a five-year ban from the BHF in the fallout from the chaos in the national camp, claimed that some BHF officials made the decision because of personal vendettas.
‘It seems like a long-term conspiracy, the way they [the BHF] are suspending
current and former national players,’ said Prince, ‘Due to personal vendetta, some people, including general secretary [Rahamatullah], are drawing this plan.’
Jimmy also took head coach Naveed Alam to task.
‘The coach said that my performance was not good, but he didn’t say anything like that in the video session. If a coach cannot brief his players properly then what type of a coach is he?’ said Jimmy.
‘We have no one with us. This thing has been done only because we have contacted with the Mohammedan club,’ he added.
-With New Age input
