Pakistan captain Wasim, Sohail Abbas quit international hockey
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan hockey captain Wasim Ahmed and world record goal scorer Sohail Abbas have announced retirements from international hockey Sunday after Pakistan clinched its third successive bronze medal at the men's field hockey Champions Trophy.

Abbas, 28, had began his international hockey career against India and announced quitting international hockey again after a match against India.

Sohail Abbas said he had already decided to quit hockey so connecting his retirement with defeat in Champions Trophy was not true. “I had already set a target for my life and the decision is not in contrast to it”, Abbas said.

Responding a question he said “I just want to take rest because I feel I have played lot of hockey,'' said Abbas. He said he will not go back to his decision as he has played lot of hockey in lost seven years.

“If the need be I will certainly come back for the 2006 world cup hockey but seeing the emerging hockey talent I think it would not be needed”, the star striker said.

“It's the player who should himself decide when to call it a day,'' Ahmed told reporters after Pakistan beat India 3-2 in the bronze medal playoff at Lahore's National Hockey Stadium.

Ahmed, 28, played 258 internationals as midfielder and scored five goals. Ahmed said he would have loved to regain the Champions Trophy for Pakistan, which last won the world's elite six-nation tournament in 1994.

``I would have loved to make my retirement memorable in front of my home crowd, but in the end I am happy that we at least finished at the victory podium,'' Ahmed said.●