23 March 2004	Tuesday	01 Safar 1425

KARACHI, March 22: PAF hockey team manager on Monday blasted what he termed as biased umpiring aimed at allowing the opposition Customs to win the game in national championship qualifiers.

"Umpire Haider Rasool gave penalty corners to Customs, although they committed fouls. But umpire Zulfiqar Haider warned on the same fouls committed by our players.

"Customs players Farhat Khan and Mohammad Ali were openly abusing and pressurising the umpires. But jury was silent. I must say PHF should ban former aging international players from playing domestic hockey as they pressurise umpires during tournaments," PAF team manager Abdur Rauf said.

Rauf said extent of the pressure from Customs players and prejudice umpiring could be gauged from the attitude of umpire Zulfiqar Haider. "Our player Kashif Yaqoob was constantly being blocked by Farhat.

But when Kashif complained to Zulfiqar he told him to let Farhat do what he wants as he is senior and an elder. This is the height of biased umpiring," the official said.