ISLAMABAD, July 28: The chairman of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC), Lt. Gen Hamid Nawaz, said Saturday that some of the players under the organisation’s wings were as old as a few planes in its fleet.

The PIA Chief, while honouring the department’s cricket, hockey and badminton teams at the Rawalpindi Golf Club, regretted that despite providing the best of facilities to the past and present players, there were some who were still not happy.

He took a swipe in particular at former Test cricketer Zaheer Abbas and squash legend Jahangir Khan, both of whom, along with another great Jansher Khan were retired by PIA recently.

“Zaheer quit playing for Pakistan in 1983 and remained in PIA for 20 years. Similarly both Jahangir and Jansher also have had their hands full, but now have begun to criticise PIA,” he said. “Players should not become a liability for the organisation. What we need now is for the young lot to prove its talent.”

Hamid felt that PIA’s hockey squad had won the national title only because of experience. “I was at the final and noticed that the players lacked stamina and if the match had gone on a little further, the team would have folded.”

He said that PIA was committed to supporting sports and sportsmen but they should not exploit their status. He disclosed that only recently his organisation had given $1 million to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) although they were not being given free tickets for the team to travel abroad as was the case in the past.

Meanwhile PIA’s champion cricket, hockey and badminton teams were all awarded medals along with a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each.

APP adds: The chairman has sought cooperation of his department’s players to retain the airlines sports section in an effective and efficient manner.

“We look to you to advise us as to how the (PIA) sports section can be streamlined and we plan to introduce your suggestions forthwith,” Hamid said

“This gathering has been called on my initiative as we wanted to solve this problem of PIA sports section on immediate and durable basis.

“I give you our commitment that we will continue to contribute in the promotion of sports but service structure must be overhauled for the commercial benefit of PIA.

“It’s better that when a tree is being cut, two or three plants take its place, he said. “When a sportsperson has served enough with PIA, that individual should ponder what he can give back to the airlines so that PIA continues t o serves him and he serves PIA.

“But they must think now how could they be useful to the airlines, he said. “They are millionaires in dollar terms and one of them drives his Mercedez to play golf.”