LAHORE, Sept 7: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has again requested the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to extend for another month the already extended deadline so that the green shirts may feature in the hockey event at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

But this perhaps is the final opportunity for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to see the light of day, as POA president retired Lt-Gen Syed Arif Hasan’s letter itself reflects that asking the CGF to show any further flexibility may not be appropriate.

Arif in the letter, made available to APP here on Saturday, wrote: “I assure you this would go a long way in keeping interest of the hockey players in Pakistan supreme and we would be satisfied that we have tried our best and left no stone unturned in this regard. If, in a month, we are unable to do so, you may take any decision as deemed appropriate by you.”

This personal letter was dispatched through electronic mail on Aug 16, and was addressed to the CGF Chief Executive Mike Hooper. The communication was essential because the previous CGF deadline expired on Aug 16, and was made exactly on the date after awaiting PHF’s communication.

Arif, who is also President CGA Pakistan, has requested the CGF to extend the deadline for another month, from the day of the said letter.

To keep the FIH in the loop, the letter has also been copied by the same e-mail to the world body’s officials, CEO, Kelly Fairweather, and Director of Sport, David Luckes.

Meanwhile, the PHF, in a vain effort to sidestep and further undermine the POA, tried to directly submit its letter of intent to the CGF. The CGF had promptly rebuffed it by asking the PHF secretary to route his communication through the POA; this CGF instruction was not complied hence the request for another extension of the extension.—APP