Man of many records Sohail retires

LAHORE: Pakistan?s penalty corner ace Sohail Abbas, field hockey?s leading scorer with 274 goals, announced his retirement from the game yesterday.
?I have played enough for my country and it is now time for youngsters to take over,? the 28-year-old veteran of 222 matches said.
The decision came after Pakistan finished third in the ongoing Champions Trophy tournament here in which Abbas scored six goals.
?I am getting married in two weeks time and that will start a new chapter in my life,? he said.
?I have a few offers to play in league matches in Europe and India. I have not made up my mind yet, all I want to do at the moment is rest.?
Abbas, a nephew of former Pakistan international Safdar Abbas, made his debut against India at Peshawar in 1998 and was soon regarded as one of the most feared penalty corner strikers in the game.
He overtook Dutchman Paul Litjens? world record of 267 goals in October and ended his career with a record 21 hat-tricks, the most by any player in the history of the game.
Abbas said his biggest regret was not winning an Olympic gold medal for Pakistan, having played in the 2000 Games in Sydney and in Athens in August.
Pakistan finished in fourth spot at Sydney and fifth in Athens.
Pakistan?s outgoing Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans said he was not surprised by Abbas?s decision to call it a day from international hockey.
?He was harshly criticised when he did not score goals in important matches and that is no way to treat the country?s top hockey player,? Oltmans said.
?There was too much pressure on him.?
Abbas failed to win the international player of the year award despite being nominated twice in 2003 and 2004. He lost out to Teun de Nooijer of the Netherlands last year and to Australian Jamie Dywer this year.
Also hanging up his stick is Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed, 27, who retired on Sunday after playing 258 matches.