Hockey
Face risk of suspension by FIH if Pakistan fails to participate in Nations Cup: PHF
Pakistan Hockey federation faces the risk of suspension as they are finding it difficult to send a team to FIH nations cup.
Pakistan Hockey team might be suspended if they fail to participate in the FIH nations cup. (source: Twitter PHF)
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is in danger of getting suspended by the sport's world governing body (FIH) as it struggles to fulfil a commitment to send its men's national team for the FIH Nations Cup, a qualifying tournament for the Pro League.
On Saturday, many leading former captains and Olympians including Islahuddin Siddiqui, Samiullah, Asif Bajwa, Rana Mujahid, Rasheed ul Hasan, Manzoor junior, and Hasan Sardar among others appealed to the government to release funds to the PHF so that it could send its team to Potchefstroom in South Africa.
The FIH Nations Cup is scheduled to start on November 28 and the PHF has made it clear that if Pakistan is unable to send its team for whatever reason, it faces a possible ban and a heavy financial penalty from the world body. In 2019 the FIH fined the PHF 170,000 euros for not sending its team to the inaugural Pro Hockey League held in Argentina.
The cash-strapped PHF only managed to pay the fine in instalments. A senior official in the PHF said that Pakistan had recently taken part in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia after the federation managed to raise funds through donations and some sponsorships as the government didn't release any money.
"We are in a very bad situation as now we don't have the funds to send the team to South Africa and if we can't do that the FIH can not only suspend us but will also impose a heavy fine," he said. Another source said that Pakistan's foreign coach, Dutchman Siegfried Aikman was also not happy with the situation.
"He is upset as these financial issues are hampering the development and progress of the team which managed to win the bronze medal in the Azlan Shah Cup. The government and its sports wing, the Pakistan Sports Board have refused to release funds to the PHF as they have appointed a fact-finding committee to hold fresh elections.
The government also didn't recognise the recent elections of PHF in which Brigadier (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokar was elected again after nearly 10 years in power.
