Administrative turmoil unlikely to foil Pakistan's participation at Solidarity Games

PSB is in disarray following Ganjera's suspension, Pirzada's resignation last week

KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to participate at next month's Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan despite an administrative turmoil that has seen Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera getting suspended and Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Mian Riaz Husain Pirzada resigning over bureaucratic intervention from Prime Minister’s secretariat.

According to PSB director Muhammad Azam Dar, Pakistani athletes will most likely be going to the Games, which begin May 12, per the original plan.

Dar feels the situation with Pirzada and Ganjera is unfortunate as it has led to the postponing of the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games, but made it clear that the country's partaking at the Games in Baku remains important.

“It is all very unfortunate but we should compete at the Islamic Solidarity Games,” Dar told The Express Tribune. “The matter with Pirzada is also resolvable as he is asking to see the Prime Minister, and some ministers are also planning to pay him a visit. We are hoping the dispute will be resolved amicably.

"As for the postponement of Quaid-e-Azam Games, it was not a good decision but it had to be taken in the current situation.”

Last week, PSB Director General Ganjera was suspended by the government without any reasoning given in the letter of his suspension. Pirzada resigned soon after in protest as he feels his authority was circumvented since PSB operates under his IPC ministry.

Dar further said that pulling out of the Games is not an option since most of Pakistan's 200 athletes have made travel arrangements for the event.

Pakistan Weightlifting Federation vice-president Rashed Malik also believes withdrawing from the Games should not even be considered as all arrangements are in place and athletes have been working hard.

He did decry the decision to scrap the local Games where 400 athletes from all over the country were set to partake and which would've served as a tune-up for the Games in Baku.

“Inter-Provincial games are crucial for local players who are not playing for any department, it serves as a great opportunity to prove their talent and acts as a nursery in our sports structure,” he said.