Shahbaz: Stars will only come out after the start

23/02/2002

HE will be competing in his fifth World Cup when the 10th hockey
extravaganza begins tomorrow, and the soft spoken Shahbaz Ahmad (pic), 35,
does not believe in stars.
"Stars will be born during the World Cup and not before," said Shahbaz
when asked about his status in the Pakistan team.
No other hockey player has ever done it and if statistics are consulted,
he has played in 50 per cent of the World Cup which made its debut in
1971.
When the record books were dusted and checked, the Pakistani forward has
a rival in Germany's Lothar Matthaeus - but that record is in the soccer
World Cup.
Pakistan, India and South Korea will be in the firing line to defend
Asia's pride in a sport which was synonymous with this region before being
overrun by the Europeans.
And Shahbaz strongly believes that Pakistan has a better chance than the
rest.
"We have a solid side for this tournament and nothing is going to stop
us from attempting to make a name in Kuala Lumpur although we are in a
tougher draw," said Shahbaz.
Germany, Holland, Spain and Argentina must be overcome by the men in
green and judging by current form, Shahbaz and his men have as fair a
chance as the rest of the teams.
Making a comeback after retiring at the end of the 1998 Utrecth World
Cup, Shahbaz found himself at the wrong end of the stick as critics took
pot-shots at him.
But he delivered in the Six-Nation by helping his teammates breeze past
the highly touted Holand and Australia.
The "Player of the Tournament," in the 1990 Lahore World Cup has found
his rhythm back and in the Six-Nation, his usual stickwork and balanced
footwork mesmerised the defenders long enough for him to make piercing
passes and help his team-mate Kashif Jawad becone the top scorer of the
tournament.
"I love playing for my country and that is why I decided to come back. I
am ready to give my best for Pakistan," was how Shahbaz, who led Pakistan
to a historic triumph in the 1994 World Cup in Sydney, described his
sentiment towards the sport.
Pakistan lifted the 1994 trophy by beating Holland in penalty strokes
and according to Shahbaz, it was the happiest moment in his playing career
"because the Dutch beat us at our own backyard in the final of the 1990
World Cup in Lahore."
He became a coach before making a comeback and interestingly, he will be
playing along with the same bunch of players whom he was coaching before
the Champions Trophy.
The other interesting fact is that as Shabaz engraves his name for the
fifth time in the history of the World Cup on Sunday in the opening match
against South Africa, Pakistan will be chasing for their fifth World Cup
title.
And those who believe in numbers, strongly feel the player with the No
27 green jersey, will play an instrumental role if Pakistan lift the
trophy in Kuala Lumpur.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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