KARACHI, Nov 15: Pakistan is likely to get financial compensation for shifting of the Champions Trophy at this month’s meeting of the game’s ruling body International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Brig M. H. Atif (retd), a member of the 21-man FIH Executive Board has regretted to the sport’s ruling body that he won’t be attending the Board’s Nov 29 to 31 meeting in Brussels due to personal commitments.
Atif, a former secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), and chairman of the Hockey Rules Board, will also not chair the Board’s meeting on Nov 25 and 26.
Pakistan had asked the FIH to compensate the financial losses after shifting of the 23rd Champions Trophy from Lahore to Rotterdam following the US attacks on Afghanistan.
However, the FIH official said since the game’s governing body was sympathetic towards Pakistan’s case, the FIH may compensate financially besides awarding a tournament.
“Though my presence would have bolstered Pakistan’s position, I still think Pakistan will get something. There is a general consensus Pakistan be compensated for the shifting of the Trophy,” Atif said from Lahore.
Besides monetary compensation, Pakistan has also proposed the FIH to allow it to hold a tournament either before or after next February’s World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
Atif however ruled out the possibility that Pakistan would be awarded the 2003 Champions Trophy which is scheduled to be organized in Milton Keynes, England.
“There is no possibility that the event which has already been allotted to England will be given to Pakistan,” the official confirmed.
It will be for the first time since 1994 that Atif will not attend the FIH meetings at its headquarters.
Commenting on the Pakistan’s fourth position at the recently concluded Champions Trophy in Rotterdam, Atif said, technically the performance was disappointing.
“Conceding of too many goals is a malady which persists. People at the helm of hockey affairs have failed to point out the reason for the problem,” he said.
The official said Pakistan conceded 25 goals at the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur in August.
Pakistan once again faltered, scored 16 and conceded 17 goals at the Trophy despite what the team management called excellent display under the bar by goalkeeper Mohammad Qasim, he added.