LAHORE: Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Shahbaz Ahmad Senior in a press statement issued on Monday said that the majority of the former Olympians who were part of the anti-PHF seminar had worked with him and were ousted because they could not deliver.

Shahbaz advised the Olympians to send him their suggestions for the betterment of hockey instead of criticising him.

He assured the Olympians that their suggestions would be implemented as soon as possible. “No one can make Pakistan world champions in matter of days and to achieve success, there is a need to work at the grassroots level which is integral part of the PHF’s activities,” said Shahbaz.

He said the PHF was facing lot of problems due to financial problems and thus it was unable to send Pakistan team abroad. However, he said the Uzbekistan team will be touring Pakistan from April 16 to play six matches against Pakistan Development team while He a league would commence in Gojra from April 13 in which development teams will take part and best players will be selected from the league to face Uzbekistan.

Published in Dawn, April 09th, 2019