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KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Akhtar Rasool stepped down from his post on Thursday, days after rejecting reports in the media that he was removed from office by the government following the hockey team's failure to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
The former center-half Rasool, who represented Pakistan at two Olympics and four World Cups, was elected unopposed as the president of the hockey federation in 2013.
Former Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui, Shahnaz Sheikh, Samiullah Khan along with others had termed the 2013PHF elections bogus but Rasool retained his position even as Pakistan's fortunes continued to dip.
Pakistan had secured eighth position in the qualifying event for the Olympics held in Belgium and as a result failed to qualify for the 2016 Games. It was the first time in the game's history that Pakistan missed out on a spot at the Olympics
After the debacle, the Inter-provincial ministry and the PHF had formed their separate committees to probe the performance.
Rasool's resignation came the same day as the PHF fact-finding committee submitted its report to the federation.
More to follow...
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On DawnNews
Comments (27) Closed
Aug 20, 2015 01:02pm
Why Akhtar WHyyyyy ?
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Aug 20, 2015 01:05pm
Why did u do that Akhter.
This is not our tradition,regardless of our performance and outcome we used to stick to our positions,why u r changing our culture??
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Aug 20, 2015 01:07pm
Why such delay. He should have resigned the same day, Pakistan Hockey was thrown out of Olympics for the first time. Perhaps he was waiting for some ship to rescue him.
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Aug 20, 2015 01:10pm
Thanks God Before selling the Kit of players.
These are one who destroy hockey. where is Khalid Hameed, Anyone know where he is now.
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Aug 20, 2015 01:25pm
true
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Aug 20, 2015 01:31pm
A good day for Pakistan's hockey.End of nepotism.If my father is an hockey administrator I can have the Pakistan's cap without merit and after retirement I can become an hockey administrator and this pass on to my children.This is how hockey in Pakistan was ruined.
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Aug 20, 2015 02:10pm
Beginning of the end of Nepotism, corruption and pure in competence.
I hope other officials follow suit and do good for the country.
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Aug 20, 2015 02:14pm
Otherwise would have won olympics.at least spend something for power outage,so that i can look after my daughters studies.
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Aug 20, 2015 02:42pm
Good riddance. It was due since ages, let those who can deliver and at the same time ask devoted sponsors to step in, support the game right from the grass root levels and let our national game flourish. I am confident we can stage a big comeback and be a formidable playing side. Let us start from a scratch, look for youngsters, groom them and invest in them. Let the old stalwarts sit on the side benches, watch and give expertise advice. Let the new blood take
over the reins, it was due since long. Enough is enough. No more old faces please. We need foreign physical coaches, the rest of the hockey world is miles ahead in this regard. We need ruthless coaches and no more politicians. Let us revive late Nur Khan's time.
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Aug 20, 2015 02:48pm
This was long over due. He has systematically ruined hockey in Pakistan. He is not even ashamed of doing this!
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Aug 20, 2015 02:58pm
This should have been done some time ago.
He was not good for Pakistan Hockey.
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Aug 20, 2015 03:07pm
very good decision for Pakistani team to re back.
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Aug 20, 2015 03:16pm
Oh no!
His job was nearly complete, he was a whisker away from finishing off Pakistan hockey forever. No doubt, the higher authorities will find someone suitable to complete the job!
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Aug 20, 2015 03:31pm
A great news for the whole nation. But Akhtar Rasool and his cronies have damaged Pakistan hockey to such an extent that it would be a herculean task for his successor to put it back on the right path. During Akhtar Rasool's tenure as the president of the PHF, Pakistan, this year, failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time. In 2013, Akhtar Rasool was the manager & head coach of the Pakistan team which failed to qualify for the World Cup, also for the first time.
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Aug 20, 2015 03:31pm
First Qasim Zia , now Akhtar Rasool both political appointees- obviously standard of field hockey was locked as a disaster.
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Aug 20, 2015 04:13pm
The present Army chief had promised at the time of our last disgraceful exit from the Olympic qualifying matches to take over the reins of hockey development in the country. Let Dawn play its due role and remind the Chief to take over. The malaise is so unmanageable it can not be put right by these greedy and incompetent so called old stalwarts. We must make efforts to revive this game. Let big names like Leading industrial tycoons own various teams, sponsor them and spend lavishly on the improvement of the infrastructure of the hockey. Induct private companies to run the show, let PHF be sidelined. We need drastic changes for its reemergence on the national level. Now is the time, cannot afford to loose more time, the west is brining drastic changes and modifying playing strategies suiting their styles and temperament. We must act fast so that Asian style hockey is not buried for ever. We are already far too behind.
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Aug 20, 2015 04:38pm
Curse on him for destroying Pakistan National game.
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Aug 20, 2015 05:03pm
It is okay to resign or fired Mr. Akhtar Rasool, obviously you tried your level best but it didn't work out. Thank you for your help, we have few more experts it is their turn now.
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Aug 20, 2015 05:21pm
Thanks God.
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Aug 20, 2015 06:36pm
He should take the other 11 with him!
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Aug 20, 2015 07:25pm
Finally
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Aug 20, 2015 07:46pm
What's the use now , when the whole nation saw hockey funeral
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Aug 20, 2015 09:01pm
Most poorly run outfit financially and politically.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:05pm
Thank you, Sir!
This country will be in your debt forever.
Our next step should be to kick the whole hockey team out!
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Aug 20, 2015 09:06pm
Good residence,thanks God he realised. Let us start with anew beginning. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:40pm
We will soon see him as adviser to PM on sports.
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Aug 20, 2015 10:03pm
We must respect a legend of his time the Akhtar Rasul. Hockey vs Cricket the decline is undetstandable. Govt to make the weak deptt.more lucrative.
Hockey within years survive. Youth is jobless.
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