New Delhi: Uncertainty hung over the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the upcoming Asian Games after the players threatened a pullout owing to non-payment of daily allowances for past six months.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said it was pinning its hopes on sponsors and a new government, expected to be led by one of the country’s biggest sporting icons, Imran Khan.
PHF has not paid the national team daily allowances for past six months, the total now amounting to more than Rs 8 lakh per player. They have played domestic as well as international tournaments like the Champions trophy during this period.
“We have decided that we will not travel to Indonesia if our dues are not paid. Our team has to depart August 12 and we will wait till 10th. Then only we will decide about our participation,” captain Mohammad Rizwan (Sr) told this agency from Karachi.
When asked if the players will boycott training, he replied in the negative. “We are training at the national camp in Karachi and will continue. Our preparation is good and we have a good bunch of experienced and young players. You can expect exciting hockey from us,” he said.
The Asian Games are slated to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2. The Pakistan hockey team is in Pool B, which include Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Oman and host Indonesia.
Sitting over the issue for months, the PHF still managed to sound optimistic. “We have talked to our sponsors and are confident that the issue will be resolved in the coming week. Our players are determined to play and they are not greedy,” said Shahbaz Ahmed, secretary general of PHF and a former captain.
