Waseem Ahmad

football player infobox
playername = Waseem Ahmad
fullname = Waseem Ahmad
nickname = "Muhammad Waseem,Wasy"
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1977|4|10|df=y
cityofbirth = Vehari, Punjab
countryofbirth = Pakistan
currentclub = Waseem Hockey Club, WAPDA
clubs = Habib Bank
WAPDA
Rotterdam Hockey Club (Netherlands)
Hyderabad Sultans (Premier Hockey League), India
caps(goals) = - (-)
position = Left Half
years = 1996–present
2005 season
nationalyears = 1996–present
nationalteam = Pakistan
nationalcaps(goals) = 304 (5)
ntupdate = 17 July 2006
pcupdate = 17 July 2006

Waseem Ahmad (Urdu: وسیم احمد) (born 10 April 1977, Vehari) is a Pakistan field hockey player and ex- captain of Pakistan hockey team. He is regarded as one of the best left halfs in the world, and became the most capped midfielder and most capped player for Pakistan. After announcing his retirement from International hockey during Press Conference held after Pakistan-India third-place match of [http://www.fihockey.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,1181-161633-178848-nav-list,00.html 26th Champions Trophy] in Lahore, former Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed later staged a comeback to international hockey in 2006 for World Cup.

Career

Pakistan's most-capped player and midfielder became the 34th National hockey Captain of Pakistan when Pakistan clashed with India in the opener of 9th Indo-Pak Series (Friday 24 September) at Karachi's HCP. He was the 17th captain to lead Pakistan in Champions Trophy. Apart from Shahbaz Ahmed, who captained Pakistan 6 times (1990-95) in Champion Trophys, only three players have captained Pakistan on two occasions. They are Hanif Khan (1983, 1985), Mansoor Ahmed (1996, 97) and Muhammad Sarwar (2001-02). Islahuddin, Munawwaruz Zaman, Akhtar Rasool, Samiullah Khan, Manzoor Hussain Jr., Hassan Sardar, Rashidul Hassan, Nasir Ali, Qazi Mohib, Muhammad Usman, Atif Bashir and Muhammad Nadeem ND captained once only.

The influential left-half is first in the list of most-capped Pakistanis. Shahbaz Ahmed Sr. (303 caps) is the second one. Third-placed Tahir Zaman earned 252 caps in a career spanning from 1987 to 1998. Other Pakistanis with 200+ caps in international hockey circuit are Mansoor Ahmed, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Nadeem and Sohail Abbas.

Waseem Ahmad was the seventh midfielder to lead Pakistan. Hamidullah Burki was the first one when he led Pakistan in 1950 World Championship at Barcelona. Burki was followed by midfielders Ghulam Rasool, Anwar Ahmed Khan, Akhtar Rasool, Rashidul Hassan and Muhammad Usman.

He replaced former skipper Mohammad Nadeem alias ND, who quit international hockey after Pakistan finished 5th at the 28th Olympic Games.

Playing Position (Left Half)

The little fellow, with a perpetual grin on his face, is one of the few universally acclaimed stars of modern era Pakistan hockey. The position of left-half is generally regarded as a defensive one in Asian style hockey but, like Fazalur Rahman (1965-72) and Naeem Akhtar (1982-88), Waseem proved this perception wrong. He is not only a dynamo in defence but also in attack. He displays an extremely high work-rate. Waseem, also known as Muhammad Waseem in media, struck 6 goals in 303 international outings. He is an ex-student of Government College Lahore now known as GC University (Ravian) which in itself is a rare distinction for a hockey player.

kills

Born in Vehari,located near Multan, a district of Punjab Province, on April 10, 1977, Waseem made his international debut during 16th Champions Trophy 1996 at Chennai (formerly Madras), India. He possesses excellent tackling and positioning sense in defence. Similarly, he has great ball-control to move up-front, creating gaps in the opponents' defence and supplying superb passes to the strikers.

Achievements

Waseem played his 200th international hockey match on 24 September 2003 when Pakistan inflicted a 4-2 win over India in the Group-B encounter of [http://in.rediff.com/sports/asiacup03.htm 6th Asia Cup Hockey Championship] at National Hockey Stadium of Bukit Jalil Sports Complex at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Waseem also struck a precious goal in that match when he converted Pakistan's first penalty corner by beating Indian keeper Devesh Chauhan. He scored that crucial goal when the match was evenly poised at 2-2.

Being captain of Pakistan Hockey team for the 1st time, team won the 9th Indo-Pak Test Hockey Series and returned back to Pakistan with a victory under his captaincy.

Waseem won silver medals in Champions Trophy at Chennai 1996 and Lahore 1998 besides bronze medals in 2002,2003 and 2004 editions. He also appeared in CTs of 1997, 1999, and 2001. Waseem also represented Pakistan in Olympics 2000, 2004, World Cup 1998, 2002 and Junior World Cup 1997. He has also won silver medal in 5th and 6th Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur 1999 and 2003 respectively, and bronze medal in 13th Asian Games at Bangkok 1998. Pakistani team won Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 3 times and Waseem Ahmad was in the side everytime.

Along with Sohail Abbas, he was the only Pakistani to be included in the World XI which played against the Netherlands in Alexandria on October 27, 1999, as part of [http://www.fihockey.org FIH] 's 75th Anniversary Celebrations. Waseem used to play for current national champions of Pakistan, WAPDA and he was the vice-captain of Pakistani team that won the third Junior Asia Cup at Singapore 1996. He also won the gold medal in FIH World Youth U18 Festival at Rawalpindi/Wah 1995-96.

He captained Pakistani team in two events before he announced his retirement. First was India-Pak Hockey Test Series 2004 which Pakistan won easily. Second was Champions Trophy in December at Lahore in which Pakistani team got bronze medal under his captaincy.

Retirement

He became Pakistan's second most-capped player when he earned his 253rd cap on December 4, 2004 in a match against Germany and he became Pakistan's most-capped (304) December 12, 2004 in his last match before retirement against India which was for Bronze medal and Pakistan won it. He was declared man of the match in this match for his excellent captaincy and midfield work. He also became the most-capped midfielder of Pakistan's hockey history by edging out Muhammad Usman's record of 210 caps. Former national skipper Usman played as a right-half from 1994 to 2002. He came back in the side for playing Champion's Trophy and World Cup in 2006 for Pakistan Hockey Team after taking his retirement back.

Interview With Waseem

FULL NAME: Waseem Ahmad
HOMETOWN : Vehari
TOURNAMENTS WITH NATIONAL TEAM: Olympics 2000, 2004 -World Cups 1998, 2002, 2006 - Champions Trophies 1996-99, 2004, 2006 -Asian Games 1998, 2002 -Common Wealth Games 1998,2002
MAJOR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS: National Championships from 1993 to 2008
SHIRT NUMBER: 6
Clubs: Rotterdam Hockey Club (Holland), WAPDA,Hyderabad Sultans (PHL 2005) and Waseem Hockey Club (Vehari)

Hayi: How did you get started with hockey?
Waseem: Actually my elder brothers played hockey so hockey is like a family game for me.

Hayi: Who were the biggest influences on your career?
Waseem: My coach, Zafaryab

Hayi: It's always the goals scorers who grab the headlines. What made you decide on becoming a defender?
Waseem: From the start of my hockey carrier my teacher told me that you will play left half no other position you will play so thats way I started to play on the position of left half.

Hayi: What is your favorite hockey memory?
Waseem: When I became the captain of Pakistan hockey team.

Hayi: And your worst memory?
Waseem: When we lost semifinal of Olympics(2000 -Sydney) against Korea.

Hayi: What are the strengths of your game?
Waseem: Tackling, ball control, interception and making right decisions on right time.

Hayi: Weaknesses of your game, if any?
Waseem: My shooting in the circle area is not very good.

Hayi: What makes a good Left-Half?
Waseem: Tackling, positioning in defense and confidence when you have the ball (specially when defender is going to clear the ball in pressure)

Hayi: Is it difficult to make a living playing hockey in Pakistan?
Waseem:I do not agree with this.

Hayi: How do you balance your competitive hockey career with family and work?
Waseem: Its really very difficult to give much time to your family during your hockey career but we are lucky because hockey became our work also because we got the jobs.
Hayi: Any suggestion to improve standard of hockey in Pakistan?
Waseem: We need to strengthen our domestic structure and need to educate our young players on club level.

Hayi: How many caps for Pakistan?
Waseem: 303 caps

Hayi: How many hours a week do you train?
Waseem: In training camp -almost 6 hours a day.

Hayi: If you didn’t play hockey where would your life have taking you now?
Waseem: I cannot say anything.

Hayi: What will you do when you finish hockey?
Waseem: Not sure yet but I want to do something on youth level if I got any chance or may be I will join my job.

Hayi: Any advice for an aspiring young hockey player?
Waseem: It's the duty of our federation to do something for the promotion of hockey and high light the national players then they can inspire the young players.

Hayi: Who are the best up-coming players for Pakistan?
Waseem: Zubair, Waqas Akbar,Fareed Ahmad Ihsan-ullah and Abbas Haider.

Hayi: How do you think the Pakistani national team will perform in the next four years?
Waseem: I wish that Pakistan team will perform very well but it seems difficult.

Hayi: Holland has dominated men’s hockey over the last 4 years. Do you think that they will stay at the top of men’s hockey for years to come?
Waseem: Yes of course they will stay on top. And my prime reason for this answer is because they have an outstanding infrastructure to support this game. The hockey played in Holland at club level is enormous which ultimately gives them the edge to be on the top

Hayi: Something seems to be lacking in Pakistani Team. What do you think is the missing piece in the puzzle?
Waseem: Understanding in between the players. Pakistan team is not a team it seems like everyone has own mind, own thinking, nobody wants to leave his own philosophy for the sake of team so this is the main reason.

Hayi: What ambitions do you still have in hockey?
Waseem: That Pakistan hockey will come again on top in world of hockey.

Hayi: What do you do outside hockey?
Waseem: Nothing special spending time with family and friends.

See also

*Pakistan Hockey Federation

External links

* [http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/auryehgoal/ Pakistani Top Hockey Group]
* [http://www.timesofhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=1 Inverview with Waseem Ahmad by Abdul Hayi Mansoor]
* [http://www.timesofhockey.org/ Times of Hockey]
* [http://www.pakistan-hockey.com/ Pakistan Hockey Website]