KARACHI: Third umpire video referral system will be introduced in the 62nd National Hockey Championship that pushes off at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Friday afternoon.

“The launch of the system is aimed at minimising the errors, if any, during the matches,” technical delegate of the country’s premier hockey championship former Olympian Qamar Ibrahim said while unveiling details of the event at the venue on Wednesday.

He maintained that under the system the two umpires’ supervising a match will be video linked with umpires’ manager to give fair advantage to the teams.

The former Olympian said 20 teams comprising 15 departments, four provinces and Islamabad will vie for honours in the event which concludes on Jan 10.

The teams have been drawn into four pools and after the league matches, top two teams from each pool will advance into the quarter-finals. The knock out matches from quarter-finals onward will be played under floodlights and televised live, he added.

He added that chief selector Abdul Rashid Jr and co-selectors will watch the event to identify talented players.

Qamar said a disciplinary committee which include technical delegate, umpires manager, chief selector and chief coordinator of the event has been formed. Dilawar Bhatti has been named umpires manager.

He applauded the whole-hearted support of the Sindh government, particularly, additional chief secretary, Ajaz Ali Khan and Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Mohammad Rashid.

The two officials along with chief engineer Aslam Meher, executive engineer Najmuddin Sheikh and former Olympian Islahuddin visited the HCP Stadium on Tuesday to watch the facilities.

PHF official Iftikhar Syed said the senior government officials have assured to lay tartan track, besides adding facilities of modern gymnasium, club house, changing room and up gradation of hostel in the near future.

Qamar said gold, silver and bronze medal winning teams will be handsomely rewarded besides “Best Player of the Championship”, “Top Scorer” and “Best Goalkeeper”. He, however, refused to divulge proposed budget.

He said the PHF has invited all former Olympians and internationals to come and give their input for the uplift of game in the country.

He added that an exhibition match between Sindh Governor’s XI and Sindh Chief Minister XI that includes former stalwarts will mark the inauguration of the event on Friday at 3pm.

The opening day’s two matches will be played at the Islahuddin-Dr M. A. Shah Academy.

He said the teams will be provided boarding and lodging at the Airport hotel.

At the outset, former Olympian goal-keeper and president of the Sindh Hockey Association (SHA) Shahid Ali Khan unveiled the logo of the championship “Revival of Pakistan Hockey”

Organising secretary Mohammad Farooq Khan, chief coordinator Kamran Ashraf, newly appointed director administration of the PHF camp office Waseeq Ahmed and Iftikhar Syed were also present.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015