THE decision announced by the International Hockey Federation’s Judicial Commission against Pakistan captain Mohammad Saqlain has come as a bit of a dampener, as the team was just getting ready for departure to take part in the Champions Trophy when the decision came. It has the potential to throw the proverbial spanner in the works, but the team management, I am sure, would have alternatives in mind for the key competition ahead.
As last reports came in till the writing of these lines, Saqlain has decided to approach the International Olympics Committee’s Court of Arbitration for Sports with a petition to review the FIH ban, which bars him from taking part in three games as well as pay a financial fine worth one thousand euros.
In case the appeal is made and accepted for hearing by the IOC, Saqlain will probably get a stay order as well, and will therefore be able to take part in all the games of the Champions Trophy as the IOC will take some time gathering the facts of the matter and scheduling a hearing.
I find nothing wrong in Saqlain’s decision to approach the IOC, or any other forum that might be available to him, because, after all, it is a blot on his career, and, like any other individual in his position, he has the right to try his best to get the blot wiped off. However, I have serious reservations about some of the remarks that have been made, as reported by the national media, by Saqlain’s lawyer Mustafa Ramday.
In his remarks, as has been quoted by news reports, the lawyer quite vocally criticized what in his view is an anti-Pakistan bias within the International Hockey Federation. His scathing criticism is not going to do the case any good, or help Pakistan Hockey in any way.
First of all, what the lawyer has said to the media is a matter of personal perception which varies from people to people. There is no way you can prove it in a court of law. Mustafa Ramday being a member of the legal fraternity should have known better about such complexities and intricacies, but for some reason that is beyond my comprehension, he chose to say in public what, if at all, he should have said in the court.
It is a matter of some satisfaction that the Pakistan Hockey Federation is keeping its discreet distance from the appeal process. Secretary Musarratullah has said quite clearly that the PHF was not directly involved in the appeal process, and that Saqlain was approaching the IOC Court of Arbitration in his individual capacity, and that the PHF would still provide him all the necessary assistance because, in his words, Saqlain is a national asset. This is just the right approach as far as I am concerned. The PHF has to take a long-term view of the situation, and there is no point at all in offending the International Hockey Federation.
The ideal scenario under the circumstances, as I look at it, is for Saqlain to win an IOC stay order which will allow him to lead the team in the Champions Trophy. And, then, if he does not get the ban revoked even by the IOC, the PHF will have the option of arranging a series of matches against some international team so that Saqlain may sit out those games and be still available for the more serious assignments like the World Cup qualifiers and other such competitions that await the team in the coming months. It is obviously up to the PHF to finally decide about the best course of action, but they can always consider this option.
By the time you get to read these lines, the curtain of uncertainty over the team’s composition for the Champions Trophy would have been lifted, as Pakistan would have already taken the field in Chennai. let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best while wishing good luck to the national team.
THE decision announced by the International Hockey Federation’s Judicial Commission against Pakistan captain Mohammad Saqlain has come as a bit of a dampener, as the team was just getting ready for departure to take part in the Champions Trophy when the decision came. It has the potential to throw the proverbial spanner in the works, but the team management, I am sure, would have alternatives in mind for the key competition ahead.
It is a matter of some satisfaction that the Pakistan Hockey Federation is keeping its discreet distance from the appeal process. Secretary Musarratullah has said quite clearly that the PHF was not directly involved in the appeal process, and that Saqlain was approaching the IOC Court of Arbitration in his individual capacity, and that the PHF would still provide him all the necessary assistance because, in his words, Saqlain is a national asset. This is just the right approach as far as I am concerned. The PHF has to take a long-term view of the situation, and there is no point at all in offending the International Hockey Federation.
