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KARACHI: Pakistan are expected to be seen in action at the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held next year from April 7 to 17, with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) having received an invitation from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) on Wednesday.
The Greenshirts have been participating in all editions of the event, except the last two due to lack of funds.
This time, the PHF has vowed to send the team to the prestigious tournament. “We have been making plans to generate funds for the federation to send our players to the maximum number of tours to ensure they remain fit and match-ready all the time,” PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior told The Express Tribune.
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Shahbaz added that had it not been for the efforts of Asian Hockey Federation CEO Tayyab Ikram, the invitation to this year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup may not have turned up. “The MHC was on the fence about inviting Pakistan as the previous management had pulled the team out at the last minute, which made it impossible for the hosts to invite another team,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, the players are yet to receive their daily allowances and prize money of the silver medals at the Asian Games and Champions Trophy last year.
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“We’ve promised them their rightful remuneration as soon as the PHF starts generating funds, the process in under way and its effects will be seen soon,” said Shahbaz. “The first step we’ve taken is to organise the National Hockey Championship, where we will try to give considerable cash prizes to the players.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.
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