KARACHI: Reposing full confidence in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the PHF President Akhtar Rasool has expressed optimism that the financial crisis would be over soon.

“The Pakistan hockey team has a hectic schedule ahead including participation in Olympic qualifiers and it requires huge funding,” he told newsmen at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium where he had arrived from Lahore to grace the national junior hockey championship final on Friday.

First, the team will travel to Australia to feature in a quadrangular tournament being held there from May 2 to 10. This will be followed by tour to South Korea to play five-Test series from May 15 to 25. The preparation culminate with the participation n Olympic qualifiers at Belgium in June-July.

He said the trials to select the Pakistan team for the coming international assignments will be held at Lahore’s National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Akhtar added that he had a brief conversation with the prime minister in the national assembly on the matter and was confident that he would issue necessary instructions to dole out funds considering the importance of back-to-back events. “I’m expecting positive results,” he added.

Asked about the audit of last five year’s accounts, the PHF chief said he had submitted necessary documents with the Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) and was ready to cooperate.

He went on to say that Punjab chief minister’s financial support to the tune of 100 million rupees has immensely helped the PHF to carry out regular activities. He agreed to a questioner that statements given by former Olympians to the media in the past has created doubts in the minds of bureaucrats.

Akhtar said he has also sought the FIH president’s help for reviving international hockey in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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