PHF’s disciplinary hearing: Abbasi, Butt seek clearance for Olympics
Timeframe of decision on defected players cannot be given, says official.
KARACHI:
Former captains Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt will seek clearance for the Olympics as they appear in the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) disciplinary hearing today over their participation in the ‘unsanctioned’ World Series Hockey (WSH) along with other national players.
The PHF summoned eight players, who participated in the cash-rich league despite a ban on the event which was not authorised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), at its headquarters in Lahore. Besides Butt and Abbasi, Zeeshan Ashraf, Waseem Ahmed, Tariq Aziz, Adnan Maqsood, Mudassir Ali and Imran Warsi have been asked to justify their participation at the tournament.
It has been learnt that all the players, barring Warsi and Maqsood who are playing in a foreign league, have confirmed to appear before the PHF committee.
The disciplinary committee head Wasay Jalil said a decision will be made as per the FIH rules and regulations.
“The players will be given a fair chance to defend themselves,” Jalil told The Express Tribune. “We will not downplay their version but we will make a decision in the light of FIH law.”
However, he said a timeframe on the decision cannot be given and was not sure if the verdict would come out before the team announcement for the Azlan Shah Cup on May 13.
“It is an important decision and we will take our time.”
Butt, Abbasi hope to convince
Meanwhile, both Butt and Abbasi, who were a part of the preliminary squad for the Olympics, hoped to return to the squad for the mega event. “I am hopeful of convincing the committee,” said Butt. “I signed the WSH contract before the FIH declared it as an unauthorised event. Secondly, I played when Pakistan wasn’t schedule to play any international matches.
“In fact my participation in WSH gave me good practice ahead of Olympics.”
Meanwhile, snubbed former captain Zeeshan Ashraf lashed out at the PHf, saying playing hockey was not a crime. “Hockey is our bread and butter,” said Ashraf. “The PHF has failed to help us get our rewards for the Asian Games gold medal and we don’t have good jobs either.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2012.
Former captains Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt will seek clearance for the Olympics as they appear in the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) disciplinary hearing today over their participation in the ‘unsanctioned’ World Series Hockey (WSH) along with other national players.
The PHF summoned eight players, who participated in the cash-rich league despite a ban on the event which was not authorised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), at its headquarters in Lahore. Besides Butt and Abbasi, Zeeshan Ashraf, Waseem Ahmed, Tariq Aziz, Adnan Maqsood, Mudassir Ali and Imran Warsi have been asked to justify their participation at the tournament.
It has been learnt that all the players, barring Warsi and Maqsood who are playing in a foreign league, have confirmed to appear before the PHF committee.
The disciplinary committee head Wasay Jalil said a decision will be made as per the FIH rules and regulations.
“The players will be given a fair chance to defend themselves,” Jalil told The Express Tribune. “We will not downplay their version but we will make a decision in the light of FIH law.”
However, he said a timeframe on the decision cannot be given and was not sure if the verdict would come out before the team announcement for the Azlan Shah Cup on May 13.
“It is an important decision and we will take our time.”
Butt, Abbasi hope to convince
Meanwhile, both Butt and Abbasi, who were a part of the preliminary squad for the Olympics, hoped to return to the squad for the mega event. “I am hopeful of convincing the committee,” said Butt. “I signed the WSH contract before the FIH declared it as an unauthorised event. Secondly, I played when Pakistan wasn’t schedule to play any international matches.
“In fact my participation in WSH gave me good practice ahead of Olympics.”
Meanwhile, snubbed former captain Zeeshan Ashraf lashed out at the PHf, saying playing hockey was not a crime. “Hockey is our bread and butter,” said Ashraf. “The PHF has failed to help us get our rewards for the Asian Games gold medal and we don’t have good jobs either.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2012.