ISLAMABAD: Considering the reply of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) unsatisfactory, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Thursday formed a committee to investigate the matter of the athletes’ non-participation in the 11th Indoor Asian Athletics Champio­nship held in Tehran earlier this month.

Pakistan athletes Shajar Abbas and Jaf­far Ashraf — despite being present in Iran’s capital — did not compete in the Feb 17-19 championship after their entries for the competition could not be made on time.

According to sources, the three-member committee is headed by PSB deputy director general Mohammad Shahid and includes Section Officer of the Ministry of Inter-Prov­incial Coordination (IPC) Mohammad Umar and PSB Advocate Saif-ur-Rehman as members.

The committee will finalise its report after hearing AFP office-bearers, team man­ager, officials and athletes concerned, and submit a report to PSB director general wit­h­in three days along with its recommendations.

A couple of days ago, the PSB expressing its concerns over the unusual development in Tehran had sought details from the AFP on the matter.

“We understand the importance of ensuring the active involvement of our athletes in international competitions, not only for their individual growth and development but also for the promotion of Pakistan’s sporting prowess on the global stage,” a PSB letter addressed to the AFP on Tuesday stated, according to sources.

“In order to gain clarity on the circumstances surrounding the reported non-participation of [the] players, [the] federation is required to submit a comprehensive report,” added the PSB letter.

In its queries, the PSB had asked the AFP to submit the reasons for non-participation of the two athletes despite being present in Iran, the official responsible for ensuring the entry of the players and whether there was a designated manager and official tasked with coordinating the participation.

Sources said that the AFP in its reply informed the PSB that due to some technical reasons, including lack of internet facility, plus misunderstanding and non-availability of transport delayed submission of the players’ entry in the event.

However, the PSB after terming the AFP response unsatisfactory formed the committee, sources added.

The said athletes were supposed to compete on the first day of the Indoor Asian Athl­etics Championship. Mean­while other Pakistan athletes, Amir Sohail and Sharoz Khan, participated in the same event.

‘NO FAULT OF AFP’

Talking to Dawn, AFP chairman retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi said that there was no fault of the federation in the athletes’ non-participation in the event in Tehran, adding that the change of the Technical Information Centre (TIC) by the hosts caused misunderstanding.

“On the first day, the TIC was set up in our hotel where we successfully registered our three athletes. The next day, we were supposed to get Shajar and Jaffar registered but all of a sudden we came to know that the TIC has been shifted from the hotel to [the] stadium, which was one-and-a-half-hour drive away,” Sahi said and added that when the manager reached the TIC, the entry was denied.

“This [untoward] development happened not only affected us, a couple of athletes of two other countries faced the same situation,” the AFP chief claimed.

When asked to comment on the inquiry committee constituted by the PSB, Sahi reckoned that the PSB had no right to form a committee to conduct a probe directly against any sports federation.

“Still we are ready to cooperate and share with them [PSB] the entire episode. We have already shared our written response with the PSB and now we will submit our reply before the inquiry committee as well. There is nothing to hide,” he said and added that it was good that the PSB was focusing on AFP affairs.

“With [the] same spirit, the PSB should lay tracks for indoor athletics,” Sahi stated.

“There is not even a single indoor track in Pakistan. So, how [in these conditions] can we train our athletes for major international events?” he asked.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024