PESHAWAR: Sports Commission of Pakistan chairman and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah on Sunday lamented the exclusion of Peshawar as a venue for the upcoming tour of the World XI hockey team.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) vice-president demanded that Peshawar is included as a venue and asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take this issue to the National Assembly and question Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president retired Brig Sajjad Khokar’s motive behind the exclusion.

“If Peshawar doesn’t stage a match of the World XI we will stage a protest demonstration in front of the provincial and national assemblies,” Aqil told a news conference.

The World XI squad comprising Olympic and world champion players has agreed to tour Pakistan in January for series of hockey matches against the national team and the PHF has announced Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad as the venues.

“When they have decided to hold matches in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, they should also stage one here,” protested Aqil. “The situation here is conducive for international sport and we’ve hosted international events in the past as well.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier shifted Quaid-i-Azam Trophy matches from Peshawar and now the PHF, having earlier sidelined our three teams from participating in the National Under-16 Boys Hockey Championship [currently being played in Khairpur], has excluded us from hosting a match in this landmark hockey tour.”

He added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association (KPHA) had been organising different events and yet the PHF has adopted a step-motherly attitude towards the province.

“The PHF is ignoring the talent in the province,” he claimed. “The tour of the World XI provides an opportunity for our youngsters to see them in action and learn from them.”

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2017