LAHORE: The high-profile All-Pakistan NBP Cup Hockey Tournament commences here at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium but surprisingly no matches will be played on the main pitch of the arena.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Rana Mujahid, addressing a news conference, said the main ground is not being used despite top departmental teams taking part in the event since the stadium is not under PHF custody.

It may be mentioned here that the Punjab Sports Board, which is the custodian of the stadium, had in the past refused the use of main stadium to former PHF regime headed by Qasim Zia on many occasions when the PPP was ruling the country.

However, it is surprising that now when the incumbent PHF chief Akhtar Rasool belongs to ruling party of PML-N, the main stadium has still not been given to the PHF for the tournament.

Rana also refused to comment on the issue when reminded that while the NBP Cup would be held under international playing rules, the Johar Town Stadium ground did not meet the required standards.

Meanwhile, expressing concerns over PHF’s poor financial condition, the secretary hoped the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) summary sent to the prime minister for allocating Rs500 million annually for the federation would be approved soon.However, surprisingly the patron has not yet invited Akhtar Rasool for a briefing on PHF affairs despite the passage of eight months since Akhtar took charge at the PHF in December last year.

Responding to a query about the fate of the Rs100 million fund allotted recently to the PHF by Punjab government, Rana said the federation was utilising the money in running its affairs.

To a question, he said the Auditor General of Pakistan had cleared PHF accounts of Qasim Zia’s tenure. However, he disclosed that the auditor general had raised objections to the amount spent in the past over sending journalists on different tours with the national team.

It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, soon after assuming charge last year, had announced that no journalist would travel on the government expenses.

Meanwhile, seven teams will feature in the tournament to be held on league basis. The participating teams include defending champions PIA, Army, Wapda, Railways, Higher Education Commission, Punjab besi­des hosts National Bank of Pakistan.

The PHF has decided to apply new FIH rules in the event which will come into effect from Sept 1. According to those rules, the total duration of a match will be 60 minutes (four quarters of 15 minutes each) instead of 70-minute duration comprising two halves of 35 minutes each.

After the first and third quarters, each team will have a two-minute break while the existing 10-minute half time will remain unchanged.

Furthermore, each match of the event will be considered as decided and if a match ends in a draw, it will be decided on penalty shootout. The winners will gain two points and the losers one.

Fixtures: At National Hockey Stadium:

Aug 7: Railways vs Wapda, Army vs Punjab, PIA vs NBP.

Aug 8: Army vs HEC, Wapda vs Punjab, NBP vs Railways.

Aug 9: Wapda vs HEC, PIA vs Railways; NBP vs Punjab.

Aug 10: NBP vs HEC, Punjab vs PIA, Wapda vs Army.

Aug 11: Rest day. At Johar Town Stadium:

Aug 12: PIA vs HEC, Punjab vs Railways, NBP vs Army.

Aug 13: HEC vs Punjab, Army vs Railways, PIA vs Wapda.

Aug 14: HEC vs Railways, Wapda vs NBP, PIA vs Army.

Aug 15: Final.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014