Hockey federation rendered headless

LAHORE: There was confusion in Pakistan’s hockey circles on Thursday after the Pakistan Sports Board de-notified three top office-bearers of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, including its president, retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, for failing to hold elections after their tenure had expired in May.

The hockey governing body shared a document which showed that it had been instructed by the PSB to refrain from holding polls until the revised National Sports Policy was implemented.

The PSB notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn, issued on Thursday, said the board had de-notified Khokhar, former PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed and treasurer Mohammad Ikhlaq.

“The tenure of the office-bearers has expired on 14-5-2022 and no election notice/schedule has been issued by the PHF despite a lapse of more than two months which is in violation of National Sports Policy-2005. Foregoing in view, the PSB hereby de-notifies all the office-bearers on the expiry of their tenure with immediate effect,” it said.

PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa did not give a response but shared with Dawn a letter issued by the PSB’s director training last year, asking all national sports federations not to hold elections till the implementation of the revised National Sports Policy-2020.