KARACHI, March 19: Organizers of postponed All-Pakistan Governor’s Gold Cup hockey in Peshawar lashed out at Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), blaming the officials for postponement which forced the teams to return from the venue. “PHF should have postponed the tournament since the turf was not ready. It’s incomprehensible why this tournament was not postponed, although dates for Aga Khan Gold Cup in Rawalpindi were changed because new surface was being laid. It was a deliberate attempt to create problems for us (NWFP officials),” said senior vice-president of NWFP Hockey Association, Zahir Shah.

The tournament was scheduled to start from March 1 at Peshawar’s Qayyum Sports Complex but had to be delayed when organizers were told by the Directorate of Sports NWFP that the event could not be organized as instructed by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

“I was told by director-general Directorate of Sports NWFP, Mazullah Khan, that DG PSB had asked not to hold the tournament as the board will be sending people to clear the wrinkles and inspect the patches of the synthetic turf laid last year, therefore, the tournament was delayed till March 15,” he said.

But, Zahir said, PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan, asked the Directorate of Sports NWFP to assure that the repair of the turf would be completed by March 11 and the event would start on March 15 despite being aware that PSB officials were still working on the turf.

“But on Friday we have been told by Directorate of Sports NWFP that tube well at the Peshawar Sports Complex is out of order and is pumping sand along with water. We were told that it would take another 10 days to rectify the fault, therefore, the tournament be postponed or shifted to another venue.”

NWFP official said PHF could have either shifted the tournament or changed the dates as it did in case of Aga Khan Gold Cup which was delayed because of the new pitch was being laid at Army Stadium, Rawalpindi.

“Aga Khan event was scheduled in February but was delayed and was held in March. Then why PHF did not do it in this case despite being aware of the situation of the turf. Why was it so necessary to hold the tournament in Peshawar,” he asked.

Owing to PHF’s rigid approach, the participating teams had to bear the brunt and according to the organizers seven teams Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, PAF, Steel Mills and PTV, had to return in despair since the venue was not ready.

PSB officials became active after a question raised recently by Senate’s Standing Committee on Sports about the defective Peshawar and Bannu turfs.