Pakistan hockey coach Akhtar Rasool expels Shakeel Abassi for fasting

Shakeel Abbasi of Pakistan has been expelled from training for fasting

Pakistan Hockey coach Akhtar Rasool has kicked off a controversy on Wednesday by expelling Shakeel Abassi for fasting during the ongoing national training camp.

The incident ignites discussions to whether the players should be allowed to fast during matches or such training camps.

Rasool believes that the player has violated the disciplinary norms as the players were already instructed not to fast during the training camp.

“It was decided very clearly before the camp began that no player will fast because during fasting it is not possible to focus on your training and drills,” Rasool said.

“If Abbasi wants to fast he should do it at home. This is a national camp and all players are required to focus on their training. The forthcoming Asia Cup is a do or die situation for us if we don’t win it we can qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

Abbasi confirmed that he had defied the orders of his coach but the player insisted that he could still concentrate on training even while fasting.

“I believe I can do both things and I believe keeping fast or not should be an individual’s personal decision,” he added.