PHF warns players to stay away from World Series of Hockey
LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has issued a stark warning to its players that anyone having any ties with the planned World Series of Hockey would face severe punishment.
PHF Secretary, Asif Bajwa said on Friday that all players had been told to disassociate themselves from the illegal world series before the selection of the national squad for the Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Malaysia on April 28th.
“All the probables who are attending the national camp have been told to give us in writing that they have nothing to do with the controversial world series,” he said.
“And I would also advise those players who are not in the camp or have not joined it as yet to not get involved with this world series,” Bajwa said.
A breakaway group of the Indian hockey federation is planned to hold the world series later this year on the lines of the Indian premier league and media reports have suggested they are signing up players from different countries including Pakistan.
Bajwa said the PHF had got information that some players had signed contracts with the WSH.
“It is not confirmed as yet but we have learnt that Rehan Butt, Muhammad Wasim and Shakeel Abbasi who are in the camp have signed contracts with the WSH,” he said.
“There are also reports that Zeeshan Ashraf, Adnan Maqsood and Muhammad Saqlain are in touch with the WHS,” he added.
Bajwa made it clear that the PHF would show no leniency at all with players who try to join the WHS.
Pakistan’s captain, Zeeshan who has withdrawn from the Azlan Shah tournament has complained in recent days about players not having proper employment despite doing well for the national team.
Bajwa noted that the FIH has already warned all its affiliated countries to discourage any controversial league, and under its instructions the players will not be permitted to feature in any tournament world over.
“We will also not allow such players to even represent their departments in domestic competitions,” Bajwa said.
Last January the FIH sent a letter to all its member countries regarding the reported WSH in India announcing it will not recognise the WSH and making it clear any player who associates himself with the league will not be allowed to take part in any FIH sanctioned event or even any competition organized by a member federation of the FIH.