Lahore will witness in September the Queen’s Baton Relay (ceremony) of the Commonwealth Games to be held in Golden Coast, Australia from April 4 to 19. The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has started arrangements for the visit of the team that will bring the baton. Pakistan is included in the 52-member countries of the Commonwealth Games. The baton will be taken to all member countries before reaching Australia on Dec 25, and then start its final journey within the country and complete it in the next four months to reach the main stadium on April 4 to be lit to inaugurate the sports gala.

It had started its journey from Buckingham Palace, London, the residence of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, in March this year. The Queen was the first baton-bearer and she had put her message into the baton, which will be read out at the time of the opening of the games on April 4.

The baton will reach its final destination after completing a distance of 230,000 kilometres which will take around 388 days. It has to pass through five continents -- Africa (18 countries), Asia (seven countries), Caribbean and America (13 countries), Europe (three) and Pacific (11).

The countries, which in the past had been ruled by the British, are members of the Commonwealth Games.

The baton will be in Pakistan on Sept 30 and it will be placed in front of the Lahorties at Minar-i-Pakistan either on Oct 1 or 2 in view of Ashura. A private school will be among the organisers of the ceremony. Hockey Olympians may be invited to lift the baton from Town Hall to Minar-i-Pakistan.

Dar Hockey Academy, Lahore (DHAL) is in Holland on a 15-day tour. It is unbeaten in two matches it has played against clubs; first it defeated MOP Club 4-1 and in the second match it edged out Rosmalen Club 2-1. It is the fifth tour of DHAL to Europe since its launch seven years ago.

According to information, Rosmalen side was formed with their top players, ageing 24 to 26 years. DHAL has all the players under 19.

Holland is one of the strongest hockey nations in the world, which has grassroots level infrastructure for the game. It is a small country of Europe where hundreds of AstroTurf facilities are available for the players.

Pakistan had scored first two goals before Rosmalen Club reduced the goal difference in the last 10 minutes of the game. For DHAL, M. Usman and Farhan scored and for Rosmalen, Koert Stovers found the net.

DHAL has produced a number of hockey players. It is being run by Dar family which produced three Olympians namely Munir Dar, Tanvir Dar and Tauqir Dar. It is being run on a self-help basis and is a great example for those who want to do something for the country from own resources. It is not only imparting free coaching to the players but also bearing the education expenses, besides food and accommodation of those who come from other cities.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has taken a surprising decision of sending its development squad to Oman, Muscat next month on a preparation tour. Before touring, the PHF will set up a training camp in Lahore from next week. The decision is quite surprising as Pakistan has opted for a minnow (country) in hockey.

The federal government has given the PHF huge funds but it (the federation) has failed to show good results on the ground. And now the decision to send the team to Oman indicates that the PHF lacks vision to bring about improvement in the standard of the game.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held a farewell in the honour of its outgoing chairman Shaharyar M. Khan this past week. The entire staff of the PCB working at its headquarters was invited to attend the ceremony. Mr Khan left the post after completing three-year tenure which is marked by highs and lows.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was expected to probe the allegations Umar Akmal levelled against coach Mickey Arthur at a press conference but it put its weight behind the coach.

Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal had told a press conference at Model Town ground that Mickey Arthur misbehaved with him and made him leave the National Cricket Academy where he went for practice.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2017