Hockey camp resumes despite failing to receive Rs350m grant

Punjab govt steps in as finance minister asks for audit report of previously released funds

KARACHI: The Pakistan hockey team resumed its training camp at the Johar Town Hockey Stadium in Lahore on Sunday ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers despite being told that the promised grant of Rs350 million from Prime Minister and Patron-in-Chief Nawaz Sharif has been put on hold.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Akhtar Rasool had met with the PM on April 7 outside the Parliament House where the grant was agreed upon, but Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has asked for an audit of the previously released funds as they were not utilised properly for the promotion of the national sport.

Although this was a major setback in their preparations, the Punjab Government stepped in with their promise of sponsoring the team for its tour to Australia and extended the funds to helping out in the running of the camp. However, the PHF was told that the government would release Rs15 million in parts.

The funds will be used to pay for the daily expenses and allowances of the camp and its players and officials while the remaining sum will be used for the tour of Australia. The next assignment to South Korea will have the hosts bearing all costs.

“If the funds are utilised properly, they are enough to run the training camp for the next 16 days — including the trials — and cover costs for Australia as well,” a PHF official told The Express Tribune. “The management cannot afford to waste this money as the grant from the Punjab government has come after great difficulties.”

The players initially started their preparations on March 16 for the upcoming four-nation tournament in Australia, test series in Korea and qualifying round in Belgium, but the camp was called off on April 1 as there was no funds to run it and several players were injured due to the poor conditions of the AstroTurf at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad. Due to this, the camp has been shifted to Lahore.

Trials for the final team selection for the upcoming assignments will be held after two days of training and the selected players will continue the camp for 16 days before leaving for Australia on April 28.

“During the trials, we will be testing the physical fitness of the players as they were given a self-training plan for the past 10 days,” said head coach Shahnaz Sheikh.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th,  2015.

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