Pakistan hockey players will get much-needed financial relief as they are expected to receive $10,000 each from the two-month long Malaysian Hockey League. PHOTO: FILE
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has issued the NOC’s for the players to participate in the two-month long league. However, in case any international event arises in the aforementioned period, the players have signed affidavits which require them to report for national duty, if called upon, and allows the PHF to take legal action against players who fail to comply.
National skipper Muhammad Imran, along with Haseem Khan, Kashif Ali and Azfar Yaqoob, has been signed by Sapura HC, while Rizwan Senior, Fareed Ahmed, Ali Shan, Waseem Ahmed and Umar Bhutta have been signed by Kuala Lumpur HC.
Meanwhile, Hammad Butt has been signed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad HC, while Maybank HC has secured the services of former captain Shafqat Rasool, goalkeeper Imran Butt, Touseeq Arshad, Muhammad Waqas Shareef and Muhammad Irfan.
The players, who have endured the brunt of a financial crisis plaguing the PHF over the past year, received a major boost recently when the federation released Rs700,000 each for the team’s 2014 Asian Games second place showing and goalkeeper Butt believes that the $10,000 they will receive from the Malaysian league will certainly improve their financial standing in addition to their morale.
“All the players are really happy to participate in the league as this will not only give us match exposure and practice, but will also help us in getting ourselves out of the financial crisis,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “Last year when I was signed by Sapura HC, I had to miss the league for the 2014 Champions Trophy training camp, for which I did not receive any compensation. However, considering that PHF released some of our dues and also gave us the NOC for the league, I am quite confident that the payment for the Champions Trophy would also be cleared soon.”
The six players who have been signed by Maybank HC and Kuala Lumpur HC will be leaving on Monday night as they have received their visas and NOC’s, while other players are expected to leave on July 28 as they have to reach Malaysia before August 1.
Apart from Pakistani players, players from India, Argentina and other European countries will also participate in the league that will end on September 20 with the players returning home on September 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2015.
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