Pakistan will miss Irfan Muhammad against Spain on Tuesday for wearing gears not authorised by FIH.

By Soumitra Bose

Irfan Muhammad became the second player in the World Cup to be suspended. The Pakistani was pulled up for wearing unauthorised protective gear during Sunday’s group B match against India at the National Stadium.

India’s Shivendra Singh was the first player to be suspended for an unfair challenge on a Pakistani opponent. Shivendra, who scored one of India’s four goals, has been charged for “deliberate assault”. The Indian forward apparently used his stick in a bid to hurt his opponent during a midfield skirmish. The Indians are challenging Shivender’s 3-match suspension.

The Pakistanis are not challenging Irfan’s ban. According to the FIH, the Pakistanis have been serial offenders, having flouted similar rules on protective gear during the Champions Challenge in Salta, Argentina, last year.

Hockey has borrowed pieces of cricket equipment. Players are seen using the batting gloves and ball “guards” as protective tools, especially during penalty corners. Defending blazing hits, with balls travelling at hundreds of kilometer per hour, can sometimes be “ouch” business.

Irfan just became a bit too innovative, or rather “over-protective.” He used a long gauntlet type glove and a knee pad. These are not allowed in the equipment bag that a team carries. According to the FIH, every piece of gear has to be approved by the technical desk.

The Pakistan team manager Asif Bajwa admitted his team was at fault. Irfan said he was unaware. Communication gap has always been a problem with Pakistan sport. The Green Shirts, however, got full marks for their on-field behaviour.