LAHORE, Feb 1: Former Pakistan volleyball captain and Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) secretary Abdul Khaliq Khan died here on Friday after illness. He was 80.

Khaliq, also the secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), was laid to rest in the evening.

Khaliq, who was hospitalised earlier this week, was pioneer of volleyball in Pakistan as he had been selected in the Pakistan team in early 1950s due to his performance at the inter-varsity competition.

He was named as captain of the Pakistan team in 1962.

He served as PVF secretary while also being captain of the Pakistan team.

He continued to run the PVF as secretary for many decades till early 2000 after his retirement as player.

Also, he was elected as POA secretary after his predecessor Latif Butt resigned having developed differences with incumbent president Arif Hasan in 2005.

Khaliq was again elected as POA secretary in 2008 besides being one of the candidates of Arif Hasan as POA secretary in the last year elections.

But this time Arif retained Khaliq in his panel as POA vice-president.

Khaliq remained associated with the POA as vice-president until his death.

Moreover, he also wrote PVF constitution and played major role in giving POA affiliation to new sports federations.

The deceased also served Wapda as chief engineer for many years.

He has left behind one son, four daughters and a widow to mourn his death.

Meanwhile, POA president Arif Hasan and PVF president Mohammad Yaqoob condoled the sad demise of Abdul Khaliq and termed it a big loss for the sports fraternity.