LAHORE, Nov 23: Instead of Mohammad Saqlain, two Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials leave for Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday to face an International Hockey Federation (FIH) judicial commission on Nov 27.
PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan (retd) will leave for the Swiss city along with Supreme Court advocate Mustafa Ramdey.
Saqlain is facing an inquiry by FIH for allegedly hitting an Australian player Craig during the final of the Rabo Trophy in the Netherlands in August. Match referee Rino had referred the case to the FIH which appointed a judicial commission for hearing the case.
In case of a decision against Saqlain, PHF has planned to appeal to the International Olympic Committee. It is being expected by PHF officials that if FIH takes decision against Saqlain, an appeal to IOC would prolong the case, making Salqain available for the December’s Champions Trophy in India.
Saqlain, who has been retained as captain for the forthcoming six-nation event few days ago despite facing an inquiry, has a history of violent temper and violations of code of conduct. He was booted out for misconduct from 2000 Sydney Olympic squad.
Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans had also shown the midfielder the door after he hit team-mate Adnan Maqsood during a session a day before leaving for Athens Olympics last year. The half-back also got one-match suspension for hitting a South Korean player during an Azlan Shah Cup match earlier this year.