LAHORE, March 31: Pakistan hockey forward Tariq Aziz has been banned for six months by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for hitting Australian midfielder Rob Hammond during the Commonwealth Games final in Melbourne.

The ban, imposed after reviewing reports from team management and “observers”, means that Tariq will not play both at home and abroad.

Tariq will miss World Cup qualifying tournament in China, Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, Champions Trophy in Spain, Hamburg Masters in Germany and the World Cup after the ban.

Before the penalty was announced, Tariq met PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan to give his version on the incident.

Tariq was first red carded at Commonwealth Games for hitting a South African player during a pool game before getting his second red card for injuring Hammond.

The secretary, however, parried the question when asked whether the ban means that Tariq’s career is over, but added the player deserved to be penalised for the misconduct.

“PHF was considering one-year ban on Tariq but later it was unanimously decided to give six-month suspension,” he said.

Asked why Tariq has been banned while temperamental midfielder Mohammad Saqlain is being defended despite a ban by International Hockey Federation (FIH) for injuring Australia’s Victory Craig, Musarrat said “the incident in which Tariq has been involved was different.”

“Tariq is suspended as he deliberately hit the player while Saqlain should get the benefit of doubt because an Australian player was injured during a move,” the official said.

Saqlain, who is involved in a number of cases of misconduct during his career and sent home after being dropped from 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics squads for misconduct, received three-match suspension and 1000-euro fine by FIH for deliberately hitting Craig at Hamburg Masters last year.

Saqlain was also involved hitting a South Korean player at Azlan Shah Cup match last year.

An appeal against the FIH decision is pending before International Olympic Committee (IOC) Arbitrary Commission which allows the midfielder to play till final decision. The IOC will hear his appeal on April 13.