LAHORE While some players of the national squad are not happy with the game's authorities, alleging they have not been paid daily allowance as per the criteria for their tour to Holland where they were provided an ordinary accommodation, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa has declined to clear up the situation.
“I'll not respond to such speculations, till you do not disclose the names of the players,” was the reply of Asif Bajwa when contacted to give his viewpoint on the players' claim over the team's tour to Holland. While considering that since the international careers of those players could be at stake, Dawn did not disclose their names to anyone.
When pointed out will the no-comments policy of the PHF not strengthen those rumours, Bajwa remained adamant not to speak on the subject until knowing the names of the players.
The players claimed that the PHF was bound to pay each player $100 per day and so every player should have been paid $2400 for the entire tour. But actually everyone received just $210 in all.
Moreover, the players asserted they, despite being members of Pakistan's national hockey squad, were given a club-level place during their stay in Holland.
They further said that while Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel's recommended experts in different fields were paid heavily during the camp training, the players were ignored.
They fear that if the PHF adopts the same attitude in the future, it will only further demoralise the players from whom the nation expects they would win gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The PHF was severely criticised by the game's experts for organising the camp in Holland. The experts believed that since the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games are going to be held in Asia, Pakistan team's preparations in Europe will not serve the purpose.
Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh has claimed that the PHF had wasted around Rs20 million on holding the 20-day camp in Holland.