ISLAMABAD, July 26: Federal Sports Minister, Mian Shamim Haider has demanded an explanation from Pakistan Hockey Federation over Pakistan’s shocking 9-2 defeat at the hands of Holland in the ongoing Champions Trophy at Terrasa, Spain.

The Minister summoned the high officials of Sports Ministry and Pakistan Sports Board on Wednesday and instructed them to get a reply from PHF on the debacle.

“It is shameful that Pakistan, with such a rich history in hockey, has become the laughing stock of the world with defeat against Holland,” Mian Shamim regretted.

He said that the government had given lavish grants of million of rupees to PHF in recent years but the results have been next to nothing.

“The government is laying a network of astro-turf hockey fields around the country but the team has sunk to lowest ebb with its performance in international arena,” Shamim said.—APP

Our Sports Correspondent adds from Lahore: The International Hockey Federation has given permission to the Pakistan Hockey Federation to lift ban on Tariq Aziz and allow him to take part in domestic competitions.

Tariq had been banned for six months from international and domestic hockey for hitting an Australian player during the final of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

The ban on playing international hockey will remain in effect till Sept 30 and therefore Tariq will miss the chance to play the World Cup in the same month.