21
LAHORE: Pakistan women’s hockey team head coach Saeed Khan on Friday denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled at him by a player hours before the squad left for Brunei to participate in a three-nation Asia Challenges Cup.
On Thursday, training camp probable Syeda Sadia accused Saeed of harassing her.
Iqra Javed, a player selected for the Brunei-bound squad, came forward in Sadia’s support but she has been dropped on charges of indiscipline.
More surprisingly Nageen Babar, originally travelling with the team as an umpire, has been selected in Iqra’s place. Sadia has also made a complaint to Punjab sports minister, who has constituted a two-member committee which would start the inquiry after the national team returns.
Yet, Saeed was defiant on Friday.
“I’m not guilty at all and am ready to face any inquiry,” he said. “If I was guilty, I would’ve escaped from the camp but I’m here answering your [reporters’] questions.”
The secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) women’s wing Tanzeela Aamir, meanwhile, blamed former coach Mohammad Usman for causing this controversy and called for a life ban on him.
The tournament in Brunei, which runs from Oct 22 to 25, was reduced to just three teams after Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and China pulled out, prompting concerns that the Asian Hockey Federation may cancel it.
Interestingly, while Hong Kong and Brunei will play two matches against each other, while Pakistan will face both teams just once.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017
