The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has formed a three-member committee to probe a scandal in which some girls athletes had leveled allegations on officials of the Punjab University Sports Department for forcing them to use banned substances to enhance their strength to win medals in the inter-varsity competitions.

The committee comprises Arshad Sattar (head of Punjab College Sports Department), Dr Nausheen (Kinnaird College University) and Sumaira Sattar (Lahore College University).

Since the case is related to doping, at least one expert of this field should have been the member of the probe committee. It would have been much better had the HEC inducted persons into the committee having no link with any university.

It is an open secret that the main rivals of the Punjab University Sports Department are the same universities from which members have been taken.

The three selected members will be treated as controversial. One wonders what measures the HEC has taken in making the probe committee unbiased.

An independent committee should be appointed since the prestige of Pakistan universities is at stake in this case.

Six girls submitted a complaint to the Punjab chief minister for taking action against the officials involved in the scandal. But the next day two complainants, Fauzia Parveen and Zonera, withdrew their names from the complaint. Later, it was revealed that three of the complainants were not the students of the Punjab University.

However, main complainant Bushra Butt is still firm on her charges. The PU has also formed a five-member fact-finding committee, but its report is yet to come.

The HEC has to take many strict decisions to keep its sports unit clear from any controversy. On account of a deep rivalry among universities in the field of sports, the HEC has assumed a crucial role, but it seems the institution is taking least interest in saving the sports from all ‘evils’.

A clear-cut sports policy should be drafted for admissions to universities on a sports basis while the registration of players should be made accordingly.

No athlete should be allowed to represent any university in more than one game. The HEC should also direct all universities to hold trials under the supervision of international players to select their teams for any competition. It will help enhance the standard and repute of competitions at the varsity level.

The Pakistan cricket team coaches, Waqar Younus and Mushtaq Ahmad, changed their minds about holding three practice matches at the LCCA ground due to its poor condition.

Both Waqar and Mushtaq along with other coaches are busy holding the national training camp at the Qadhafi Stadium for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Since the pitches of the Qadhafi Stadium are undergoing their annual preparations, the national team management tried to use the LCCA ground as an alternate venue. During inspection, both Waqar and Mushtaq found the ground uneven and with plenty of grass on it.

Since there is no other suitable option available, it seems the team will continue to hold the practice session at the Qadhafi Stadium.

In fact, it is a season of preparing pitches and grounds for the next cricket season. The PCB’s curators are also doing the same work at the Qadhafi Stadium. Under these circumstances, the PCB should not have selected Lahore as a venue for the training camp in the rainy season.

The Punjab Sports Board will hold the last match to generate money for the help of IDPs in Lahore on July 26. Three matches are being held in Faisalabad and Multan. The first match was organized in Rawalpindi last week. A series of meetings are being held to make arrangements for the Lahore match.

Published in Dawn, July 20th , 2014