Bhubaneswar Last two days at the FIH Men's Champions Trophy have been full of action on and off the field. And while the on-field action ended with Germany crowned the champions, losing finalists Pakistan tried to mend fences with India by presenting red roses.
Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh and captain Muhammad Imran arrived for an on-pitch media briefing holding a red rose in their hand, after losing the final to Germany 2-0. "We have already said sorry for what happened after the match against India and now we are here to present you this red rose," the Pakistan coach said.
Two Pakistan players, Muhammad Tousiq and Amjad Ali, were suspended while Shafqat Rasool was officially reprimanded by the FIH following Pakistan's obscene celebrations after the semi-final.
Pakistan beat India 4-3 and then the players took their shirts off while showing the middle finger to the crowd and the media present at the ground. The behaviour was strongly objected by the Indian media, fans and Hockey India - after which the FIH decided to punish the offenders.
"Let's talk about the match. I and the Pakistan Hockey Federation have already given a written apology and the players have been suspended by the FIH," Sheikh said.
"Today Asian hockey has once again lost to the Europeans. That should the topic of discussion. Let's move on," he added. "We should mend fences as we have promised that such behaviour will not be repeated. Let's now get the bilateral hockey relations between India and Pakistan back on track.
Captain Imran, who too was holding a red rose in his hand, said that Pakistan team has also been badly treated after a defeat to India in the past.
"We don't want to raise that but I can tell you that Indian players too have treated us badly in the past. These things happen in an India-Pakistan game," he said. "But we are here to bury the hatchet and this red rose is a sign of that," Imran said while raising the rose towards the photographers.
"Why do you keep coming back to that topic? It's past now. We've apologised. Let's move on," the coach interrupted as another reporter was about to ask a question about the Pakistan team's behaviour.
When asked what about the flowers his apology letter earlier in the day mentioned about, Sheikh said they were advised that it might create a security issue, so they had to drop that plan. "But this rose is for you; that's why we came here," Sheikh said.
Pakistan finished with a silver medal after losing the final to Germany. India ended fourth after a defeat against Australia in the bronze-medal playoff.
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