HOCKEY SAGA Cash crunch puts Pak game in spot

Karachi, April 6: The cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation has turned down Hockey India’s offer for financial aid after it evoked strong reactions from a cabinet minister and former players.

“We cannot accept this offer from Hockey India despite their polite gesture as this is purely an internal matter of the Pakistan Hockey Federation,” PHF President Akhtar Rasool said.

Soon after a senior official of Hockey India said on last Saturday that it was concerned with news reports about Pakistan being unable to send its team for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Holland due to financial crisis and that HI was willing to lend a helping hand, the Pakistan hockey community reacted strongly.

“It is all drama by the PHF to get more funds. It is a shameful situation for us that India is offering us financial assistance for our hockey,” former Olympian and captain Samiullah said.

Similar sort of reactions came from former players and federal minister for information Pervez

Pakistan was unable to send its team to Malaysia for the Azlan Shah tournament due to lack of funds.

Scheduled training tours of Australia and Korea as part of preparations for Olympic qualifiers late next month are also in doubt.

Rasheed said India’s offer showed the incompetence of PHF. “The government has released around $12 million to the PHF as special funds in the last few years so it is not as if the government is not supporting hockey but the PHF needs to get its house in order and tell us where this money was spent,” Rasheed told reporters.

Pakistan was unable to send its team to Malaysia for the Azlan Shah tournament due to lack of funds. Scheduled training tours of Australia and Korea as part of preparations for Olympic qualifiers late next month are also in doubt. — PTI