LAHORE, Feb 5: Ignoring Punjab Hockey Association (PHA), Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has asked Lahore District Hockey Association (LDHA) to organise the Talent Hunt tournament in Lahore from Feb 18.

After creating a mess in Sindh, PHF secretary Akhtarul Islam has written a letter dated Feb 2, 2007 to president LDHA Khalid Iqbal Rasool, younger brother of former PHF president Akhtar Rasool, informing him that the tournament would be organised by the LDHA on behalf of the federation.

Though PHA is going through crisis after its president Imran Masood, who is also provincial education minister, suspended his secretray Naveed Alam, it is in a position to hold the event in collaboration with LDHA.

The minister had appointed Munawwar Azad as acting secretary, replacing Naveed. Naveed's suspension was the result of his differences with Imran who is being backed by Akhtar Rasool.

However, Akhatur Islam’s decision of allotting the event directly to the LDHA is indeed a favour to Akhtar Rasool group. Since PHA is an affiliated unit of PHF and not LDHA, Akhtarul Islam should have contacted PHA instead of LDHA directly. PHA should have been entitled to allot the event to any of its district associations.

Akhtarul Islam has also been charged with favouring a particular group in Sindh headed by Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor.

Akhtarul Islam recently “approved” a list of Sindh Hockey Association (SHA) office-bearers, while another group has threatened to move court against the decision, PHF constitution had been violated by having six representatives from Karachi. The secretary of another SHA formed recently Ramzan Jamali had said any SHA formed under a sports minister would not be acceptable.

In all 12 teams will take part in the tournament which will conclude on Feb 18.

Pools:

'A': Lahore Colours, Balochistan Colours, NWFP Whites.

'B': Karachi A, Rawalpindi, Lahore Whites.

'C': Faisalabad Colours, Karachi Whites, Bahawalpur.

'D': NWFP Colours, Balochistan Whites, Faisalabad Whites.

Schedule:

Feb 14: Lahore Colours v Balochistan Colours; Karachi Colours v Rawalpindi; Faisalabad Colours v Karachi Whites; NWFP Colours v Balochistan Whites.

Feb 15: Lahore Colours v NWFP Whites; Karachi Colours v Lahore Whites; Faisalabad Colours v Bahawalpur; NWFP Colours v Faisalabad Whites.

Feb 16: Balochistan Colours v NWFP Whites; Rawalpindi v Lahore Whites; Karachi Whites v Bahawalpur; Balochsitan Whites v Faisalabad Whites.

Feb 17: Winners of Group 'A' v Winners of 'C'; Winners of 'B' v Winners 'D'.

Feb 18: Final.