ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is all set to convene its Executive Board meeting on Friday without representation from Islamabad, the Northern Areas, AJK and FATA. All have been denied membership in the Executive Board.

The PHF is scheduled to give its approval for future programmes in the upcoming Executive Board meeting.

Senior Vice-president, Islamabad Hockey Association Chaudhary Abbas told Dawn on Wednesday that the said move was aimed at killing hockey talent in these areas.

“The PHF move is an attempt to impede hockey development from the grassroots level by snatching the legal right of these associations to be part of the Executive Board meeting,” he said.

The Executive Board panel currently comprises four provinces, a few Olympians, the Women’s Wing president, two departments along with the PHF top brass.

The Islamabad Hockey official questioned as to how the four associations could form one team for participation in the national championship and other national league matches.

“In the past, all these four regions formed their separate teams, of 18 players each, to represent them at national-level competitions while providing an opportunity for the PHF to select new talent. But the federation’s dictatorial move will result in their missing the opportunity to generate new talent from these regions.

“It is a demotion for hockey and a move to kill the hockey talent in these regions.

“PHF President Qasim Zia sincerely wanted hockey to develop but it seems that the people currently working with him are misguiding him,” he said.

But when contacted, Qasim Zia pointed out: “They [four associations] are present in the federation council.”

When asked that Islamabad Hockey Association is not on the Executive Board despite the presence of the four provinces he said: “This is a constitutional thing, which was already decided before me. However, I will look into the matter.”

The Federal Sports Ministry too has pointed towards the loopholes in PHF’s constitution.

Qasim, however, rejected Chaudhary Abbas’s claim that they did not have voting rights, adding that: “No body has snatched the right of voting from these associations. They should have raised the issue in the PHF’s council meeting.”