LAHORE: Former Olympian and ex-secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) retired Col Mudassar Asghar has slammed the current PHF set-up for its wrong priorities and says the federation is not on the right track to achieve the goals in the world of hockey.

In an exclusive interview with Dawn here on Friday, Mudassar said: “Instead of doing some better for Pakistan hockey, the PHF is getting involved in provincial bodies politics, working on the useless idea of holding hockey league at an off-shore venue, defaming the country for a second time after rejection of visas for the veteran players and by taking the decision of not playing in the Champions Trophy due to fear of defeat.

“And on top of all this, the PHF is demanding funds in billions of rupees from the government without having achieved anything substantial so far. All this shows how unconcerned the PHF is about the revival of national hockey and is only keen to further the agenda of its own officials.”

He said the PHF held the elections of the Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) recently just to bring their blue-eyed persons at the helm of affairs as a no-confidence move was passed against the previous set-up of Pervaiz Bhindara without following any rules or regulations. “If you are focused on such issues just to bring friends and well-wishers in the set-up, ignoring merit and professionalism, you will waste time and earn nothing even if you have billions in the account,” said Mudassar.

“It is a fact that in Qasim Zia’s tenure, the PHF received record funding from the government, but was Pakistan able to raise a strong team in that era? It did not happen because nepotism prevailed then too and only ‘friends’ were accommodated,” he lamented.

Mudassar further said that now the PHF was planning to hold its own league on an off-shore venue on the pattern of cricket’s Pakistan Super League but it won’t be of much benefit.

“Though it is a good idea but it should be held here in the country where the game is dying,” he said. “Who will bear the huge expenditure of holding the event abroad and who will sponsor our hockey teams, andhow will our players benefit by playing there?” he asked.

“Instead of holding leagues and wasting the money, the PHF should be more focused on revamping the domestic structure and to bring improvement in club and schools hockey.”

Col. Mudassar pointed out that the 30 years of Pakistan’s reputation and hard work in the Champions Trophy was ruined by the PHF as it did not accept the FIH invitation to take part in its upcoming edition,to be held in London this year, due to fear of defeat.

“Unless Pakistan plays against the strong teams, it could not raise any formidable squad and the Champions Trophy is the best platform for that purpose,” he said. “I would like to ask if the decision to stay away from the Champions Trophy was taken just by some individuals or by the PHF Board.

“Pakistan had finished at a pathetic 11th place in the World Cup 1986, but we made a comeback in Olympics 1988 and in 1990 World Cup to make top four teams in the world just because people functioning in the PHF then had worked with sincerity and dedication,” he recalled.

Speaking about the recent humiliation due to rejection of visas to the veteran teams for a second time, Mudassar said: “The veterans have to play a series against Indian counterpart in England in June this year but the UK High Commissioner issued visa to only one Pakistani player which is such a shame.

“Earlier, the PHF also made a mockery of the national honour when only seven veteran players could get visa of Australia to play a tournament there.”

Commenting on reports that the PHF is asking for funds of Rs1.5 billion from the government to improve national hockey, Mudassar said: “They do not have any vision for the game. The PHF also says it is keen to develop grounds and stada but it the job of the federal and provincial governments PHF has the job to just point out where the stadium should be built.

“I will again advice the current PHF set-up to show sincerity, honesty, dedication as these are the keys to achieve the required goals and victories will come automatically,” he asserted.

He said the 2018 World Cup is not far away and soon the PHF has to raise a formidable team but it is unlikely to succeed if they continue to hoodwink the nation.

He also criticised the PHF for banning Tiger Club, Islamabad without probing the matter thoroughly.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2016