Observing, only from the sidelines

However, barely three months and two team selections later, he finds himself out of favour. Bhola8217;s first assignment had been the selection trials for the current four-nation tournament in Australia in Bangalore, but he refused to go.

8220;I was told on April 7 about the trials the next day. I can8217;t do justice to my role in 2-3 hours. I said this to Jothikumaran also,8221; he says. His next assignment was the trials for Azlan Shah where, even though he was present, he apparently refused to sign on the list of players picked.

8220;There were two-three other selectors. They agreed it was not possible to decide in a few hours, but then talked to the coach and finalised the names. But I didn8217;t sign. We didn8217;t even know how many players to select,8221; he claimes. 8220;The IHF should give us at least two-three days with the players to help us give a detailed observation,8221; he adds.

Oddly enough, Ajitpal, who makes a return to the post after a three-month break, agrees. 8220;Government observers don8217;t have any powers. We are called for a few hours just a couple of days before departure, and by then the coach has already decided most of the names.

8220;There is a little discussion on the last four or five players, but we can8217;t say how good or bad a player is in such a short time,8221; he says.

However, while Bhola refused to sign on the dotted line 8212; 8220;my conscience wouldn8217;t allow it8221;, he says 8212; Ajitpal says that is not an option at the last minute, adding that they would try to suggest that the selection procedure gets more streamlined.