New Delhi: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has categorically said their players will not be a part of the $2-million World Series Hockey, to be held in India from next month, threatening that participating players might face ban from domestic hockey.
"There is no question of Pakistani players taking part in WSH. Not a single player will play. The Chinese team is touring Pakistan from December 19 and our national team will play against them," PHF general secretary Asif Bajwa told PTI Bhasha.
"The FIH has written a letter to us which clearly states that this league is unsanctioned. Our national team members will not take part in it and those who are not in the team at present will also follow the suit. All the players who are affiliated with our units will have to avoid this league."
WSH is a lucrative league organised by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports. The IHF is not affiliated to the FIH and the world body recognises Hockey India (HI) as the national federation for hockey in India.
The FIH has also threatened to bar the players from its future tournaments if they take part in the WSH.
In the same letter, the world body has suggested that they wait till 2013, when the FIH and Hockey India will launch their own world league.
As many as nine players from Pakistan have signed contracts with WSH and striker Rehan Butt is the captain of one of the eight franchises.
Rehan also admitted that it would now be very difficult for them to be a part of this league.
"I don't think that we will be able to play in the current circumstances. I have sent the copy of the FIH letter to Nimbus yesterday and asked them to clarify the position. They have asked for three days. I am waiting for their reply," said the 31-year-old.
"It is clearly mentioned in our contract that we can stay out of the league if our job is in jeopardy. In present scenario, if we play the league then not only we will have to face ban from international and domestic hockey, but we might lose our jobs."
Earlier, the FIH had stated that those who had signed their contracts before 28 March, 2011 could play in the league, but now the situation has changed as FIH has termed the league 'unsanctioned.'
Former captain and ace defender Zeeshan Ashraf too sound apprehensive when asked about his chances of playing in the WSH.
"Nothing is sure as of now. We will wait and watch but one thing is certain, that we will not defy PHF directives," he said.
On the other hand, IHF president RK Shetty still sounded optimistic about the Pakistani players' participation in the league.
"As of now there is no hurdle to their participation. They are very much a part of this league and we have already received their consent in this regard," he said.
Apart from Rehan and Zeeshan, seasoned campaigner Mudassar Ali, Tariq Aziz, midfielder Adnan Maqsood, half-back Waseem Ahmad, Pakistan's most-capped player and drag-flicker Syed Imran Warsi and striker Shakeel Abbasi have also signed the contracts with the WSH.
Comments
0 comment