Yesteryear’s rebel now gets a cause

The rebel now has a cause. The 1975 World Cup winner Aslam Sher Khan, who after quitting the game in disgust went on to write a vitriolic au...

The rebel now has a cause. The 1975 World Cup winner Aslam Sher Khan, who after quitting the game in disgust went on to write a vitriolic autobiography ‘To Hell with Hockey’, has returned back to the fold. On being named the manager of the Indian team for the Champions Trophy in Cologne later this month the erstwhile angry man is now in a more positive frame of mind. “It was the call of duty that made me return to hockey and when I met the Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill before the World Cup, he asked to contribute,” says Khan.

The appointment of this former international full back of 70s, goes with IHF’s roll back to Asian style of hockey. Old timer Khan in company of coach Rajinder Singh, who swears by the traditional style of the game, make an ideal combination. And the players too seemed comfortable by these familiar faces. Skipper Dilip Tirkey says, ‘‘He has been in our place before and knows what it feels to be under pressure-cooker situation. His experience will be of great help to us.’’

Standing at the National Stadium astro-turf in his crisp kurta pyjama, Khan points out that combination skill and fitness is vital in modern hockey. But he goes on says that he will have to first take stock of the situation. ‘‘I haven’t been with the team for a long time thus I will watch them at the four-nation tournament in Holland and than advice them about tactics,’’ he said.

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The Indian team will first play a four-nation tournament in Holland, including Australia, Korea and the host nation before leaving for Germany. But still a doubt remains: Can a man who played on natural grass be comfortable with the modern version? Khan says there won’t be any problem as according to him ‘‘modern game requires more stamina and fitness but the basics remain the same.’’

India’s comeback after their dismal 10th finish in the World Cup earlier this year, is on top priority for Khan. He feels modern hockey is too competitive for anyone to dominate the game as the teams from the subcontitnent used to till astro-turf was introduced. “But, there is still chance for us to win tournaments and stay among the top teams,” he says.

Besides that Khan has been given the sobriquet of the lucky mascot of the Indian team when they won the World Cup. He had scored the equaliser against Malaysia in the semi-finals with only two minutes remaining. Now, Tirkey and Co, are hoping that Khan’s good luck charm will rub off on their team.