September 5, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani26,1423

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KARACHI, Sept 4: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Wednesday refused to intervene into dismal hockey scenario, saying Pakistan hockey officials could not be removed because of one big loss at Commonwealth Games.

The director general of the PSB, Brig Saulat Abbas, said failure of the team could not be attributed to the people who were managing the sport’s affairs.

“The situation is not that grave. Just one loss in an important game does not mean that PHF top officials should be sacked. If the team lost, it’s not PHF’s fault.” Saulat, who is scheduled to fly to Cologne, Germany, Thursday to watch Champions Trophy, said.

The PHF is under fire after the semifinal 7-1 humiliation by New Zealand at Manchester.

Critics, including Olympians, have demanded removal of PHF top brass after the debacle. Pakistan had to content with a bronze after a 10-2 victory over rank outsiders South Africa.

Pakistan’s miserable run continued at the Trophy where they lost 3-2 to Germany, recovered to beat South Korea 4-1, slumped 3-1 against The Netherlands and betten 2-3 by arch-rivals India.

Surprisingly, the PSB official refrained from commenting on team’s inconsistent showing at the Trophy.

“I can’t offer comments on that. I can only say anything on my return from Germany where I am going to see how we can organize tournaments like Champions Trophy,” Saulat said.

But the PSB’s “satisfaction” on the recent happenings in the field of hockey is strange, especially given the fact it had sacked the PHF hierarchy in 2000 citing mismanagement as the reason.

The secretary Brig Manzoor Hussain Atif (retd) who was suspended by the Council on June 12, 2000, tendered his resignation on June 15, 2000, after differences with president Arif Abbasi.

Country’s sports-controlling body, the PSB, invoking its constitution’s clause 4 (sub clause 11), ousted Arif on June 17, 2000.

According to Saulat, federal sports minister who is the president of the board, could sack the federation’s officials whenever he deems necessary.

“The situation was entirely different in 2000. There was lot of internal bickering. Both Arif Abbasi and Brig Atif were not in a position to run the affairs due to their clash,” the PSB official said.

Saulat expressed “satisfaction” when pointed out that it was not only one beating the team got, but the outfit had failed to win a single major title during the last two years.

“These kind of things do happen in sports. Teams lose and win. But losses cannot be put of PHF’s shoulders,” Saulat defended the PHF officials, who took over in July 2000.

Since after the new PHF officials came into power, Pakistan have lost Sydney 2000 Olympics, Champions Trophy, World Cup, Azlan Shah Cup, and Prime Minister’s Gold Cup.

Saulat, who is pressing the national federations to hold polls, ruled out a possibility of PHF elections, according to the new national sports policy.

“PHF has conducted elections from provincial to district level. Now there is no need for federation’s polls as there is not a single official who has held an office for two tenures,” Saulat said.