Pakistan lost 3-2 to Canada yesterday which condemned them to 12th place, their worst ever showing at the tournament which they have won four times.

"The players including captain Zeeshan Ashraf have announced their retirements and intimated this to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President [Qasim Zia]," a federation spokesman said.

"All the players in the team accept their responsibility for the humiliating performance in the World Cup and have decided to retire," Ashraf said.

Earlier, the PHF said it had sacked coach Shahid Ali Khan as well as the team manager and selection committee.

"I have sacked the team management and the national selection committee because of our shameful performance in the World Cup," Zia said.

Khan did not argue about Zia'a decision.

He said: "This is the right thing to do.

"We don’t deserve to continue.

"It was our worst performance ever and we are shattered."

Hockey is the national game of Pakistan but the national side's fortunes in recent years have been in decline with the team having to qualify for the World Cup last year.


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