July 19, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 03, 1428

LAHORE, July 18: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has taken a U-turn, saying that five undisciplined players who preferred foreign league over national duty would be considered after proving physical fitness.

The PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood said that all players including Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Saqlain, and Waseem Ahmad could play for the country after showing their fitness.

The players were barred PHF last year when they didn’t report for Doha Asian Games training camp and opted to play in league abroad.

PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali had categorically stated that the players would never be invited for ditching the country at least until he was at the helm.

Khalid said Jamali had also taken the same stance on the three players and now the controversy should come to an end.

Saqlain, Sohail and Wasim had preferred league hockey in Europe over participation for Pakistan in the Asian Commenting on the declining standard of the game in the country, the PHF secretary said other sports had also been experiencing decline, but he added that hockey’s downfall was because national institutions had stopped recruiting employees on sports basis.

He said the people had been discussing the decline in hockey, but they were not ready to pin point the real causes.

Meanwhile, the NBP signed a one-year sponsorship of Rs20 million with the PHF for junior and senior activities.