LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Rana Mujahid has vowed to contest Pakistan’s case at the FIH against injustice done to the national team after defeating India in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy semi-final.

The secretary also warned that the game would die in the country if the government does not come for its support.

He was briefing the media after attending the PHF Congress here on Tuesday under President Akhtar Rasool.

“Head coach Shahnaz Sheikh presented his report on the Champions’ Trophy and the sad incident which occurred before the final.

“The PHF has its former president Qasim Zia in the FIH Executive Board and he will fight Pakistan’s case,” Mujahid said. “The PHF has been functioning since 1948 and it knows well how to tackle such issues.

“Since the matter is of great importance, outsiders should comment on it carefully as we want to promote friendly relations with other countries through hockey,” he said.

“We will contest the case of Pakistan at proper forum (FIH) as we will not compromise the dignity of the nation at any cost,” he said.

Rana Mujahid, flanked by head coach Shahnaz Sheikh and chief selector Islahuddin, further said the PHF had some objections over the entire incident.

“After pressure from Hockey India, the FIH tournament director had reversed his earlier decision in which he was satisfied with the explanation given by Pakistan team chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh. Later, he imposed one match ban on two Pakistani players and issued warning to one other.

“You can imagine how painful the incident for the chief coach might be as he was summoned by the FIH official thrice just hours before the final.

“It disturbed Shahnaz badly who was mentally involved in preparing and discussing the match strategy with the players,” Rana remarked.

Meanwhile, Rana said that despite financial constraints, the Pakistan team won back-to-back silver medals in Asian Games and Champions Trophy.

“It is not possible to run the affairs of hockey in the country if the players are not given what they deserve. The game will die if it does not get government’s financial support,” he said.

He said the Congress passed a resolution, appealing to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is patron-in-chief of the PHF, to release grant of Rs500 million, which the Inter-provincial Ministry had recommended. He said the situation was pity when the PHF was bagging for sponsorship to send the national team to India to participate in the Champions Trophy.

He said though Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had helped out the PHF in the recent past by granting Rs100 million and then Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad also helped the national team enabling it to play the Champions Trophy but without prime minister’s support, the national game of hockey could not be run further.

He said the PHF was also trying to establish its own marketing unit.

To a question, the secretary said the PHF has planned six tours for the national team for next year but if the government’s grant was not released the plan could not be fulfilled.

“We have to confirm our participation at the Azlan Shah Cup besides the tours to Europe, Australia and China are also on the cards. We are awaiting a positive response from the government before confirming all these tours,” he said.

He said the Congress also approved some amendments in the PHF constitution under which FIH’s constitution would be followed completely.

He said though the FIH had fixed age of 70 for its office-bearers to participate in the elections, the PHF has decided to follow it with some changes as the age restriction for PHF secretary would be 65 instead of 70.

Furthermore, the PHF had also dissolved its women wing like the PCB and now all its women affairs would be run by a general manager.

In addition, women will have 20 per cent quota in every unit of the PHF, so women members in the Executive Board will now be four instead of two.

He said that except ice hockey all other games of hockey in Pakistan would be conducted under the umbrella of the PHF as per decision of the FIH.

He further said the PHF would also form its anti-corruption and anti-doping units following the FIH constitution to keep the game clean from all menaces.

Meanwhile, to a question, chief selector Islah said Pakistan team needs to play 20 to 25 international matches to emerge as one of the best teams in the world.

He said as Pakistan did not play any match against a European team for the last one-and-a-half years, they could not click in the first three matches of the Champions Trophy but later it gave much improved performance in quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Published in Dawn December 24th , 2014