LAHORE: Contractor Usman Afridi of the company with which the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) has signed the contract for laying blue turf at the National Hockey Stadium has alleged that the SBP instead of extending cooperation is creating problems by issuing his company show-cause notices.

Addressing a news conference here, Usman said that he was well on the way to lay down the turf in the first week of June.

He claimed that the SBP signed the contract with his company on April 24, adding that the turf has reached Karachi.

Stating that there is no need for changing shock-pads, he pointed out that the work could be delayed if the SBP insists on fixing shock-pads as it usually takes long time, adding that the national team won’t be able to practise for even a single day if shock-pads are to be fixed.

The government of Punjab has sanctioned funds totalling Rs35million for a new blue turf to provide the national team practice opportunity before the upcoming London Olympics.

The turf was to be laid down before the home series against China, which was held in December 2011.