WHILE the Pakistan Hockey Federation has yet to decide the fate of Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmed, at least the confusion surrounding the whole issue has been taken care of. The recommendations of the PHF Disciplinary Committee, as carried by the media, has cleared the air about the circumstances in which the rather unfortunate episode took place.
I had written earlier about the Disciplinary Committee being the right forum to handle such cases, and the manner — swift and transparent — in which it went about it only confirms its independent and professional status. With the recommendations now in place, it is not difficult to imagine how wrong it would have been to assign Wapda the task of conducting the inquiry. Does anyone realistically think that Wapda, or for that matter any independent entity, could have passed a verdict against itself? I doubt. I really doubt.
As it turned out, the Wapda charges against Shahnaz Sheikh were found to be bogus by the committee, which clearly said in its recommendations that Shahnaz had nothing to do with the players’ decision to opt for league hockey in Germany at a time when they were required on national duty. Instead, the committee found enough to suggest that the Wapda hockey team should be suspended from all national events for a whole one year.
In addition, it has recommended the imposition of fine against Wapda, and a reprimand to the official concerned for “wilful neglect” and for “issuing NOC to the players although national hockey team’s participation in Australian tournaments was at hand.”
It is absolutely clear that Shahnaz was right in refusing to appear before the Wapda inquiry committee. He stands vindicated, and I congratulate him on that count. The PHF also deserves a pat on the back for having shown moral courage to reverse its earlier decision and for bringing into play the Disciplinary Committee. Quick actions and clear-cut recommendations are not something that happen very often in Pakistan. Even when it happens, it is more often than not hushed up by the ruling body under one pretext or the other. That the PHF did nothing of the sort is an act worthy of wholesome praise.
There will be a few, however, who will try to read much into the PHF’s decision to invite the two players to the ongoing hockey camp for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. That the team needs its key players is beyond doubt. What is also beyond doubt is the fact that those found guilty of indiscipline need to pay the cost so that a precedent may be set for the future.
PHF boss Lt-Gen Mohammad Aziz Khan is likely to take the final decision is the days ahead, and I am sure that being a military person, he knows the importance of discipline under all circumstances, and that he will take a decision keeping in view all the pros and cons of the matter. A financial fine appears to be a better bet than the one-yar ban, which appears to be a bit too harsh.
WHILE the Pakistan Hockey Federation has yet to decide the fate of Sohail Abbas and Wasim Ahmed, at least the confusion surrounding the whole issue has been taken care of. The recommendations of the PHF Disciplinary Committee, as carried by the media, has cleared the air about the circumstances in which the rather unfortunate episode took place.
