05 January 2005	Wednesday	23 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Jan 4: Senator Enver Baig said on Tuesday the Senate's Standing Committee on Sports would summon the top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials later this month to ask about the unbridled decline of the game in the country.

"We will be asking the top officials about the sorry state of hockey affairs and as to why the game has been in turmoil for the past so many years. We will ask them about each and every thing from domestic structure and international performances to rifts and the accounts statement," he told Dawn.

There has been a furore over Pakistan hockey team's pathetic performances both at home and abroad during the past four to five years. With Gen Aziz Khan and Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan at the helm as president and secretary of the PHF, the green shirts remained empty-handed during officials' tenure.

Be it Olympics, World Cup, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or four Champions Trophy, all Pakistan could manage was fourth or fifth place with the exception of bronze medals at last three Trophy events.

Enver, a member of the committee, who has been in the limelight for grilling the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials for team's poor performances, said the meeting of Senate's committee was scheduled for Jan 6 but was delayed because of unavailability of few members.

The Senator was hopeful that the PCB as well as PHF officials would be called up to appear before the committee most probably in the third week of January.

"It will be the final meeting with the PCB officials, while we will ask PHF hierarchy to explain the reasons for sorry state of hockey which is in as bad shape as the cricket," he said.

Although most of the pathetic performances were given by the team during the past four years, Enver said the committee would summon president-designate Tariq Kirmani and Musarrat. He said the committee might consider calling former president PHF Gen Aziz Khan if need be.

"Since Tariq Kirmani will be taking over as the new PHF chief we will call him. But if committee feels that Gen Aziz presence is necessary, then we might call him too," he added.

Tariq would be installed as new PHF boss in Lahore at a Council meeting being held after the post was vacated by Gen Aziz who stepped down on Dec 28, saying "it's unfair to continue after retirement from Pakistan Army."

Asked would the committee ask PHF officials to submit audited accounts statement, the Senator said the top brass would be demanded to furnish all the relevant documents if required by the committee.

PHF officials have been claiming that PHF was never as rich as it is now since they took over in July 2000. Reports say PHF had accumulated about Rs350 million during the past four years. But the experts and critics have been demanding an inquiry into the accounts, saying the money was used to buy favours and joyrides, while the team suffered ignominious defeats.

Zahir Shah, a Congress member of the PHF, had even raised objections during the Dec 28 meeting over the accounts statement, saying it did not bear the signature of the approved chartered accountants. Enver said the committee would also decide whether to ask PHF officials to submit a copy of the one-year contract signed with foreign coach Roelant Oltmans.

"The committee could ask whatever will be needed including the copy of contract of the foreign coach and how much money was spent on hiring him for one year," said Enver who is vocal about cricket team's foreign coach Bob Woolmer's performance.

While the PCB was secretive about the terms and conditions of Woolmer's contract, the coach's remuneration's came to light only after Senate pressed PCB to disclose all the details.

PHF hired Dutchman Oltmans barely nine months ahead of the Athens Olympics in August last year, although the foreign coach had categorically stated that it would not be possible to deliver in such a short time.

Oltmans too failed to change Pakistan hockey's fortunes as the team fared badly, finishing fifth at Olympics and third at Champions Trophy. The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports had also summoned PHF officials in September after Athens debacle but the matter was put in cold storage after Musarrat's request.