June 10, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1428

KARACHI, June 9: The President’s Gold Cup hockey tournament starts on Sunday at the Hockey Club of Pakistan amid uncertainty about the eligibility of new entrants Port Qasim Authority (PQA).

The 12-team contest will see PQA making their debut but the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) expressed its ignorance about the participants of the competition being organised by the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA).

“I don’t have any idea how many and which teams will be taking part in the tournament. We have been provided the draws by the KHA today (Saturday). I can’t say whether PQA have playing rights or not. You can talk to organising secretary on this issue,” the PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood told Dawn from Lahore.

Organising secretary Gulfaraz Ahmad said PQA were scheduled to play national championship in March but didn’t take part because of unknown reasons.

“As they were scheduled to participate in the national championship it means they have rights to play,” said the KHA secretary.

Former PHF secretary Akhtarul Islam said PQA were allowed to feature in the national championship only if they provided No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the departments from where they had included the players.

“When I was the PHF secretary, they failed to provide us the required NOCs so they were not allowed to compete in the national championship. But they were given playing rights by the PHF,” he said.

Nevertheless, it is yet to be seen how many players from other departments PQA have inducted in their outfit and whether or not they have NOCs from the departments.

According to Akhtar, the tournament director is responsible for checking the credentials and NOCs before allowing any outfit to take part at a national level event.

“During the national championship, there was a controversy with Wapda saying that Steel Mills have illegally included four of their players. It was the tournament director’s responsibility to check and disallow the team which had included players from other outfits without NOCs. Same will be the case with Gold Cup tournament director. It is his responsibility to check whether PQA players have NOCs from other departments,” said Akhtar.

The national championship was marred by a series of protest by Wapda and Sargodha who claimed that Steel Mills had been playing with four Wapda players without legal transfer. It is yet to be seen how the technical officials will deal with the situation in case same issue crops up again as Wapda and Steel Mills will again be participating in the tournament.

Gulfaraz said he had not received any sponsorship from any quarter including cash-rich Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). Interestingly, the KHA president Munawar Baseer is the managing director of SSGC but the association is still looking for funds.

“While PIA and other companies are facing deficit, SSGC has huge revenues. But we are still looking for a sponsor for this event. KHA president has promised to provide some cash incentives during the event.”

According to the draws, teams such as National Bank, SSGC, Steel Mills and Sindh seemed to have been favoured by scheduling their matches in the evening, while outfits like Balochistan, Wapda and PAF will be playing mostly in morning or afternoon in this oppressive heat.

Schedule:

June 10: PQA v Balochistan at 9.00am; KESC v PIA at 11.00am; SSGC v PAF at 2.30pm; NBP v Sindh 4.30pm.

June 11: Wapda v Balochistan 9.00am; HBL v PAF at 11.00am; PIA v Pakistan Navy at 3.00pm; Steel Mills v Sindh 5.00pm.

June 12: KESC v Pakistan Navy at 3.00pm; NBP v Steel Mills at 5.00pm.

June 13: Wapda v PQA at 3.00pm; HBL v SSGC at 5.00pm.

June 14: Quarter-finals.

June 15: Rest day.

June 16: Semi-finals.

June 17: Final.