LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar remains de-notified by the Pakistan Sports Board despite his claims that matters pertaining to it had been settled.

Earlier this month, the PSB had de-notified the PHF hierarchy for not holding its elections due on May 14 but last week Khokhar had a meeting with federal sports minister Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari and told Dawn on Thursday that an amicable settlement had been reached.

“I had a good discussion with the federal sports minister and now it is the job of the PSB to take further action,” he said.

The PSB, however, isn’t endorsing that view. PSB director general retired Col Asif Zaman told Dawn on Thursday that the de-notification hadn’t been withdrawn and the PHF was bound to hold the elections.

Khokhar admitted that elections were due but added “it’s a lengthy process and will take time”.

Well-placed sources have told Dawn that a change at the top of the PHF is on the cards as the PSB took the step of de-notifying Khokhar and two other officials after taking the higher authorities into confidence.

However, it comes with Pakistan due to take part in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this month.

Khokhar has helmed the PHF since 2015 but the fortunes of the Pakistan hockey team have gone from bad to worse. Pakistan has failed to qualify for the last two Olympics and more recently failed in its bid to secure a spot at the World Cup next year.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022