The PHF has made it clear that any player who participates in the WHS will be banned from domestic competitions. This declaration hinders the plans of several Pakistan hockey stars, including former captain Rehan Butt, who wanted to participate in the event after being overlooked for the Champions Trophy.
PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa has said that no Pakistani player will be allowed to play in the WHS. “There’s no question of Pakistani players taking part in the WHS,” he said. “The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has written a letter to us which clearly states that this league is unsanctioned. Pakistan team members won’t take part in it, and those who aren’t in the team will also follow suit.”
Nine players from Pakistan have signed contracts with the WHS, with Butt having been named captain of one of the eight franchises.
“It’s now difficult for us to be a part of the league,” admitted Butt. “I’ve sent a copy of the FIH letter to the event’s organisers. I’m waiting for their reply.
“It’s mentioned in our contract that we can opt out of the league if our job is in jeopardy. If we play the league now, then not only will we face a ban from hockey, but we might lose our jobs too.”
Another former captain Zeeshan Ashraf, also overlooked for the Champions Trophy, believed his chances of playing in the WHS remained bleak. “We’ll wait and watch, but we won’t defy PHF directives,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2011.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@M.A.S: suit urself;nobody will care if pakistan doesn't join the league;will lose oppurtunity to improvr upon the game.I think pakistani players have already a problem with super-ego-well most pakistanis do. They can self-destruct without advice.
No to any of the indian offer. people wont die of hunger if no Pakistani players play in any of the leagues. Please stay away. we all know what they did to our cricketers. If we have some ego, we must stay away.
@Salman: @Waqas:
who?
By the as Samir says there are too many contridictions on our behaviour and we say whatever is convenient to us ... isn't that true?
@Samir: You missed the point men, its an unofficial legue thats why PHF have not allowed the players to participate its not about India.
why should international hockey federation have a problem with the world series;in football you have all kinds of clubs and series;this is the only way hockey can improve in india and pakistan,the previous giants that are now lagging much.
@ Samir
Either you are an Indian in disguise or you have problem to comprehend basic English.
Read this line again :
“The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has written a letter to us which clearly states that this league is unsanctioned.
Playing this league means that you may end up following FIH suit just like ICL.
First it was ICL in Cricket...which destroyed Cricket...then IPL....now Hockey....Indian money is talking and everyone is submissive to it....strange....
How stupid are we Pakistanis? We first complain that IPL teams don't pick Pakistani players after guys like Afridi make dumb comments saying Indians have "small hearts" which makes ourselves look like hypocrites. We then turn around and tell our hockey players they can't play in India.
No wonder the world thinks we are cracked - we really are!
its not cricket....
Just like cricket, International hockey federation wants to put more money in hockey to make quick money.
Tit-for-Tat or is it........?