Players to get Rs500,000 each for hockey gold

Cash-award announced to commemorate team’s performance in South Asian Games.

KARACHI: Pakistan Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, who is also the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), announced a Rs500,000 cash award for every Pakistan Whites player after they claimed gold in the South Asian Games on Friday.

Pakistan defeated India 1-0 in the final to successfully defend their crown and also complete a hat-trick of titles and, according to PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, the Prime Minister was extremely pleased with the team’s performance.

“The Prime Minister has ordered the prize money to be released within a week and might even arrange a ceremony to commemorate the players,” said Shahbaz.



The players have breathed a sigh of relief as they received their daily allowances before the event and are in line to get their prize money as well, which wasn’t happening when the previous management was in charge.

“The new federation is really working for the revival of hockey,” said striker Touseeq Arshad. “When we know our payments are safe then we can focus on the more important aspects of the game. This mental security also reflected in our performance at the games.”

The PHF still owes 22 players of the squad a total of Rs13.8 million — Rs630,000 for each player — for the team’s international tours and domestic camps. The international tours include trips to Australia and Korea along with the Hockey World League Semi-finals.

Shahbaz, meanwhile, added that the dues are expected to be cleared after the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which commences in April.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th,  2016.

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