Hockey players’ meeting with PM delayed again

National team’s financial woes continue unheard and unsolved

KARACHI: Pakistan hockey team’s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has been postponed once again, according to a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official, who said that a new date for the meeting is yet to be decided.

The meeting, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday, was set to discuss the problems that the PHF and the players have been facing since the past one-and-a-half years, including salaries and other benefits.

The official added that the team members have also not been paid for the gold medal at the 2012 Asian Champions Trophy and silver medals at the 2014 Asian Games and the 2014 Champions Trophy, as per the National Sports Policy.

The players and officials of the national team have expressed their disappointment over the fourth postponement of the meeting, and said the reason of the delay should be communicated to them in no uncertain terms.

“Due to lack of funds, Pakistan’s preparation for the 2016 Olympics’ qualifying round has been severely affected,” head coach Shahnaz Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “The players are disheartened by yet another postponement.”

The officials said that since the PM is the patron-in-chief of the PHF, it is his responsibility to ensure the well-being of the team. “The PM should take out some time for the players who won two back-to-back silver medals last year.”

Team’s Umrah also delayed

After promising to take the players and officials to perform Umrah in the first week of March, the PHF has been forced to delay the sojourn due to problems regarding tickets.

Subsequently, Sheikh has asked the management to start the camp early. “The training camp is facing delays, we don’t have much time to prepare for the qualifying round and the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April,” he said.

“I have asked the PHF authorities to establish the camp as soon as possible. If the arrangements of Umrah are completed during that time, we can take a break during training,” added Sheikh.

 

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