'There could be financial mismanagement in the PHF'
Lahore | Friday, Mar 19 2010 IST
 

Former Pakistan greats gunning for major changes in the national game set-up in the aftermath of the World Cup debacle raised suspicions of ''financial mismanagement within the PHF''.

Pakistan crashed to an embarrassing last-place finish in the 12-nation World Cup in New Delhi earlier this month. ''There is something going on behind the scenes,'' former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh Shahnaz told 'The News'. ''People are talking about some kind of a cover-up and I also suspect that there could be financial mismanagement within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) which is why there is a resistance to calls that a new secretary should take over replacing Asif Bajwa, the man whom we all believe should be held responsible for Pakistan's humiliating performance in the World Cup,'' he added.

After the humiliating performance of the team in the World Cup, the country's hockey chiefs sacked the team management and the national selection committee but several former Olympians and international players believe that the main culprit of the World Cup disaster was spared.

''By allowing Bajwa to continue as secretary, Qasim Zia has taken a fatal decision for Pakistan hockey,'' said Shahnaz. ''After what happened at the World Cup there is no justification to protect him,'' he stressed.

Another former great, Rasheed-ul-Hasan, blamed the PHF officials for dragging players into politics.

''The worst thing that has happened to hockey is that the PHF officials have dragged the players into politics just to shield themselves,' he said referring to the fact that the entire national hockey team announced retirement after losing the playoff for the 11th place against minnows Canada. Rasheed alleged that the players took the decision on the instigation of PHF officials.

''They have set a very bad precedent,'' he said, adding that all the Olympians have united to help put Pakistan hockey back on track.

Former skipper Islah said the Olympians are hoping that PHF president Qasim Zia will act on their suggestions and sack Bajwa as PHF secretary. ''If he does that, we will give him around five to seven names from which a new secretary can be selected,'' he said.

-- (UNI) -- 19SPD10.xml

 

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