ISLAMABAD, Aug 5 Prevailing financial crunch has forced Pakistan Volleyball Federation to stay away from appearing in the 15th edition of Asian Men's Volleyball championship bringing in much dismay for more than 1,500 professional players.

The event was scheduled to be held from September 26 this year in Philippines.

Pakistan Volleyball Federation will face more embarrassement when the team will submit a fine for pulling out of the championship as the draws of the event were already announced by the organisers.

Chairman of the PVF Chaudhry Yaqoob told Dawn on Wednesday “We have contacted the officials at the top, both in the Sports Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), but they refused to extend any monetary support to the federation citing an economic slump being faced by the country.”

The PSB is the promoter, regulator and sponsor of the national federations, however, the current rejection of funds has indicated that board has failed to manage its financial affairs.

“We have been relegated into category-II sports by the government and they [PSB officials] have informed us that volleyball is not a priority sports,” he said.

The PSB has shortlisted around 30 sports and divided them in two categories -- priority and low priority.

Pakistan's volleyball junior team is currently ranked among top thirty international teams while the senior team also improved its international ranking during the last one year.

Yaqoob claimed “Participation in international events are meant to gain more points to improve international ranking which the Philippines event could have done so for us.”

Meanwhile, sources at the PSB disclosed that the federation has been refused the much-needed funding for the current event because they [PVF] had moved a petition in the court against the two-year term issue.

The sports policy which is yet to be implemented carried a two-year tenure clause which bars office bearers from contesting for a third successive term, after completing four years each.

However, the spokesman of the PSB refused to comment on the issue saying “The federation's issue is under litigation.”