Hockey: Pakistanis won’t play in Indian league says Asif Bajwa

Hockey official rejects claims by WHS organizers.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is confident that their players will stay away from the unsanctioned World Hockey Series (WHS) , despite the organisers’ claims that all those who have signed up for the event will take part.

The WHS, which starts in India next month, is not recognised by the International Hockey Federation and Hockey India, the official governing body of the game in the country. However, the organisers finalised all eight city-based franchises through player draft on Monday, insisting that Pakistan’s Zeeshan Ashraf, Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi were confirmed entries, a claim which the PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa rejected.

“These players had signed contracts before the status of the event was made clear,” said Bajwa. “Now that everyone knows it’s unsanctioned, they’ve told us in writing that they won’t take part.”

However, Nimbus Sports’ CEO Yannick Colaco said otherwise. “They’re all going to play,” he said. “Their visas are cleared –they’ll start arriving from tomorrow.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2011.