KARACHI, June 14 Pakistan Netball Federation's (PNF) Secretary General Mudassar Arain has criticised the organisers of the 13th Sindh Games for their failure in providing the players tracksuits and shoes in time for the events.
“They had to play the matches barefoot and dressed in shalwar kameez, etc. And not just netball, even the handball, throwball and volleyball teams, who had matches early in the morning weren't provided the tracksuits,” he said while speaking to Dawn on Monday.
“There has been total chaos and mismanagement from the organisers who have told us to purchase our own equipment and gear from the market. They are not even giving us the funds that they have received from the sports ministry on our behalf,” he said. “This is not fair and definitely not what had been promised to us earlier.
“Monday's opening ceremony even witnessed protests by the bodybuilding squad from Sukkur, who demanded to be given proper accommodation as they came all the way to Karachi to find they had no where to stay,” he disclosed.
“It was only after a private television channel shot footage of the shabby conditions in which the girls were playing their matches in the morning that the organisers, feeling rather embarrassed and handed out the tracksuits to the teams before the opening ceremony in the afternoon. We are still to be given our travel and daily allowances though,” he complained.
The PNF is featuring in the Sindh Games under protest as they have only been allowed eight players per team, leaving them with just one substitute player.
“According to international netball rules, a proper team comprises 12 members where seven are regular players and five reserve. But allowing us only eight per team means we get just one reserve, which is impractical,” said Arain.
The netball official was of the view that the Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Shoaib Siddiqui has discriminated against the PNF as the other teams, though also coming with smaller squads, were allowed more standby players.”
Meanwhile, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi emerged victorious in the women's netball event on day one of the Games at the NED University here on Monday morning.
Mirpurkhas beat Sukkur 4-0, Hyderabad beat Larkana 14-0 and Karachi beat Mirpurkhas 11-1. The final match between Karachi and Hyderabad will be played at 9.00am on Tuesday after the third position match between Larkana and Mirpurkhas at 8.30am.
In the women's handball event, Sukkur earned a walkover against Mirpukhas followed by Hyderabad beating Larkana by 7-0 and Karachi beating Sukkur 9-1.
The final will be played between Karachi and Hyderabad at 1000am on Tuesday before the third position match between Larkana and Mirpurkhas at 1030am.