ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday appointed Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as the new president of Pakistan Hockey Federation after Tariq Kirmani resigned the post.

The Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the federation, accepted the resignation of Kirmani as President PHF, nominating Jamali for the key post with immediate effect.

Jamali, a former prime minister, has been associated with hockey for a very long time and also served as chief selector during the early nineties. He also played hockey during his student years at Aitchison College, Lahore.

Hockey circles hailed the appointment of Jamali hoping that he will be able to devote sufficient time to the uplift of the national game after the team’s disappointing performance at the 28th Champions Trophy at Terrasa (Spain) last month.

The change at the helm was notified just hours after the national team flew off to Paris, en route to Germany, to compete in the World Cup which will be played from Sept 6-17.—APP