LAHORE: President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has written a letter to the federal sports minister Dr Fahmida Mirza expressing concerns over the exclusion of hockey from Pakistan Sports Board on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn, president Brig. (retd.) Sajjad Khokhar said that the exclusion of hockey, Pakistan’s national game, was surprising for everyone and suggested that it could be a result of an oversight.

Sajjad said he had pointed out the exclusion of the game which has brought many laurels for Pakistan by winning medals at Olympics, Asian Games and Champions Trophy.

It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had reduced the early composition of the PSB from 35 members to 11, including two games — athletics and football, while giving no place to hockey, which had lion’s share in winning medals at the world and continental level.

Hockey’s situation has been worsening in Pakistan over the last two decades as it could not qualify for the last two editions of the Olympics. It could not enter the Hockey World Cup 2014 either owing to poor performance. And in the last World Cup edition held in India in 2018, Pakistan remained at the bottom of the table.

It may be mentioned here that the PHF did not get a single rupee as grant from the federal government over the last three years. The PHF could also not enter its team in professional league of the FIH last year for the same reason as the federal government was not ready to issue any special grant.

The FIH has fined PHF for not fielding a team in the league and the world ranking of Pakistan has also taken a hit subsequently. It went down from 13th to 18th due to not participating in the league.

Meanwhile, a PSB spokesman said that there was no discussion held over the exclusion of hockey from the board. He said the composition was on rotation basis and new federations and other members could be inducted after two years.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2020