KARACHI, July 17 Several important decisions on key issues including the current and previous year's budget as well as disciplinary matters were taken during the 13th session of the Pakistan Hockey Federation's (PHF) Executive Board that took place at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) here on Friday afternoon.

The two-and-a-half hour session was held under the chairmanship of PHF President Qasim Zia which, besides approving a tentative budget of Rs140.345 million, also took strict disciplinary action against two former Olympians who recently issued statements in the media against the incumbent federation secretary Asif Bajwa, alleging his involvement in various illegal practices.

The Executive Board imposed a life ban on former national team coach Naveed Alam and former goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmad for making false accusations.

“We had found irregularities amounting up to Rs2,565,704 in the budget released to Naveed Alam for the national team's five-nation tour last year. He was issued two notices by the PHF secretary to explain the matter after which he submitted certain bills and the expenditure list during the tour,” disclosed Qasim Zia.

“We have verified it from the hotels where the team stayed and it turns out that there is a big difference between their bill copies and the ones submitted to us by Naveed. And when asked to explain this, he started making baseless allegations against the PHF and its secretary. Mansoor also belongs to the same lobby and we see their actions as not just defaming Pakistan hockey but the country as well. We don't take this lightly,” he added.

“Our lawyers are looking into the case of the shortfall in accounts and Bajwa here too will be giving his answer to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports regarding the allegations made against him. In the meanwhile, we have decided to debar Naveed Alam and Mansoor Ahmad for life from all hockey-related activities,” announced the federation president.

When asked if there was still a chance for the two individuals to appeal, the PHF chief said “There is no room for appeal after this unanimous decision by the Executive Board.”

About the matter of Asif Bajwa obtaining visas for his family to tour with him, the PHF chief said it wasn't a problem at all. “The PHF allows officials to have their families accompany them on tours. There was nothing wrong with his requesting for visas in his official capacity. Besides he never left his family behind so you cannot term this as 'human trafficking,” he joked.

Other disciplinary actions taken by the board on Friday included one against a PIA player namely Waqas Akbar who had left to play in a French league without getting permission from the federation. “Besides imposing a Rs25,000 fine on him, the board has also decided to suspend him for one month,” Qasim informed.

“Then we are also forming a probe committee to look into Ayesha Bashir's case. The player was found to be overage in the Under-18 women's squad recently and had to be dropped at the last minute. The three-member committee, to be headed by Shahbaz Senior will have Zahid Shah and Barrister Shahida Jamil as the other two members.

Disclosing the details about the budget approved for the current year, Bajwa informed “It includes our tour expenditures for the World Cup qualifiers, another senior team tour, a Champions Challenge tournament, the Champions Trophy, an Under-18 boys championship and women's team tours.”

When reminded that Pakistan never made it to the Champions Trophy, the secretary informed “Qasim Zia has developed a personal rapport within the FIH and we are keeping our fingers crossed for a wildcard entry in the event like the one we got in the Junior Asia Cup.”

The budget for several unforeseen tournaments during the previous year was also approved.

Meanwhile, the 13 board members — with the exception of Islahuddin Siddiqui, Senior Vice President Saeed Khan and Col Nadeem who could not attend due to other obligations — appreciated Bajwa's efforts in 2008 for reviving hockey's past glory. The setting up of the 12 hockey academies and Bajwa's comprehensive report of the senior team's performance was appreciated as well.

Meanwhile, the Executive Board extended the contract of Chief Coach Shahid Ali Khan till the World Cup qualifiers. Junior team Coach Khwaja Junaid presented the team's performance report.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Selector Hasan Sardar, former Olympian Akhtar Rasool, Barrister Shahida Jamil, Shahbaz Senior, the secretaries of all four provincial hockey associations and the PHF treasurer Gulfraz Ahmed.