KARACHI, March 9: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has opted to ignore Senate's Standing Committee on Sports demand to justify Under-18's recent tour to Muscat, Oman, for a six-a-side event , as the hockey officials are yet to provide a written reply, although the deadline passed on Feb 25.

Senator Enver Baig, one of the members of the committee, has asked several questions and demanded the PHF explain on an urgent basis as to why PHF sent the youth side to Oman.

"I am given to understand that PHF is in the process of sending Pakistan indoor team to Muscat. Please forward the copy of this letter to PHF for an urgent reply reaching the Senate Secretariat by Feb 25 for deliberations in the next meeting of the Standing Committee," Enver wrote to the secretary of the committee on Feb 17.

Enver, through the secretary of the committee, has asked the PHF the number of the tournaments Under-18 team has played at international and domestic level during the past four years.

The Senator has reacted after Pakistan Under-18 side went to Muscat, Oman, last month to play a six-a-side hockey tournament involving hosts and India. PHF's decision to send the team to a six-a-side competition came as a surprise since it was the first-ever time in the history that any Pakistan team participated in such an event.

Not only six-a-side hockey is a new concept for Pakistan juniors but also for the seniors who have never been involved in such an activity at home or abroad. PHF has also been asked to provide the number and location of indoor hockey stadiums in the country and the dates of the training camp and trials held to select the team for Muscat.

The Senator has demanded PHF to furnish the date of the selection committee meeting along with the names of the selected players signed by the selectors. Interestingly, only chief selector Akhtar Rasool was present during the selection of the team in Lahore, while selectors Hassan Sardar, Saeed Khan, Shahnaz Sheikh and Islahuddin Siddiqui, did not show up.

PHF president Tariq Kirmani, during a recent press briefing, had conceded the present system of selecting the teams must be reviewed in the present circumstances. But he did not elaborate why the team was sent since only one selector was present while four were absent.

PHF is also required to inform the Senator about the cost of the airline tickets, hotel accommodation, name of the travel agent through which the tickets had been purchased, and names of the PHF officials who accompanied the team and their expenditures.

The appointment of Rana Zaheer and Mohammad Farooq as team manager and coach has come under sever criticism since they have not attended PHF coaches courses which is a pre-requisite to become coach of any national team.

The Senate's committee had already asked PHF to reply whether some PHF officials had been involved in sending unconcerned people to foreign countries along with team by arranging visas using PHF office. The Senator has also asked PHF to inform whether president of the PHF was aware of the tour.