KARACHI, Feb 28: While the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Kirmani on Monday announced an advisory board to help in the revival of sport's fortunes, he admitted the present selection system of the teams must be reviewed.

The top PHF official named six members of the advisory board amid questions about the criteria for selecting the individuals and their credentials. Olympians Brig Manzoor Hussain Atif, Samiullah Khan, former chief selector Zafarullah Khan Jamali, provincial sports minister Qamar Mansoor, banker Mansoor M. Khan and police official Nayyar Hasnain were named as the members of the advisory board.

Jamali, Atif, Samiullah need no introduction. The trio have wealth of experience. Mansoor Khan, currently president/ceo Saudi Pak Commercial Bank is a former first-class hockey player having represented Karachi University, Pakistan Universities and at national level with distinction for Karachi Police and United Bank Limited during late 70s.

Besides he is member of International Masters Hockey Council as well as had helped PHF in the past securing sponsorships. Nayyar Hasnain is a police official while Qamar Mansoor is sports lover keenly associated with the promotion of the sports in the province.

"The advisory board members are honorary positions. Whether someone is Olympian or not, he could be included in the advisory board. They have been appointed as advisors since they are hockey lovers," said Mr Kirmani.

Asked what purpose the present selection committee could serve since majority of the selectors were not involved in the trials for Under-18 team and the Under-21 side in Lahore, Mr Kirmani said presence of one or two selectors was enough but later conceded that system for selecting the teams needed to be reviewed.

"I think if there is one or two selectors during the trials it is sufficient as the things must go on," he said. But later he changed his stance by admitting "it is right that three of the selectors were not present during the Under-18 trials. And that is why I feel the selection system should also be reviewed."

Chief selector Akhtar Rasool was the only selector during the Under-18 trials while Under-21 trials were attended by Akhtar and Hassan Sardar. Shahnaz Sheikh, Islahuddin Siddiqui and Saeed Khan were not present at the venue during both trials.

However, when asked whether Shahnaz and Islah had quit the PHF chief said "they are very much with us and are still selectors." Mr Kirmani had no satisfactory reply when asked what could be achieved by sending Under-18 team to play six-a-side hockey since it was not only a new concept for juniors but even the seniors had never played that kind of event during the history of Pakistan hockey.

"Oman had invited us and paid for the entire trip. I think there was nothing wrong in sending the team for the sake of exposure." Defending the decision of sending unknown Under-18 team officials, team manager Rana Zaheer and coach Mohammad Farooq, the PHF president said "past is past, decisions could be wrong but are not made with malicious intention."

Asked about the findings of the PHF disciplinary committee given the task of probe into the allegations of human trafficking by some PHF officials, Mr Kirmani said no evidence was found and the charge was what he said baseless.

He said allegations that some PHF officials were involved in misappropriation in connivance with a travel agency were also incorrect. Surprisingly, Mr Kirmani asked the press to refrain from asking such questions since it could create a bad impact on the PHF.

"It is very easy to level such allegations. I have read the findings of the report by the committee. There is nothing wrong in it. The people at the embassies are not simpleton that they will issue visas without verification. I must say press should not ask such questions. It creates a negative impact and image of PHF," he said.

Senate's Standing Committee on Sports has asked PHF to reply whether some PHF officials had been involved in sending few individuals along with team during offshore events using PHF office.

The president PHF expressed ignorance when asked why Pakistan players who played Indian league had been deprived of half of the amount by PHF given by the organizers. However, a PHF marketing official sitting in the audience denied that PHF had deducted the amount from players' fee.

Mr Kirmani asked the reporter to refrain from arguing with the marketing officials when the journalist challenged that discarded goalkeeper Ahmad Alam had alleged during a TV interview that PHF had deducted half of the amount he received from Indian Premier League organizers.