PHF issues showcause notice to three top players

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has issued showcause notices to three of its top players, Rehan Butt, Wasim Ahmad and Shakeel Abbasi for entering into contracts with the planned World Series of Hockey in India.

The PHF secretary, Asif Bajwa said that the three players who are in the training camp set up for the Azlan Shah tournament had been issued notices to explain their position.

“The PHF executive council took a very clear decision recently that since the WSH is not sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation or its affiliated units it will not be recognized by us,” Bajwa said.

“As per the council’s decision we have asked Butt, Wasim and Abbasi to explain if they have any contracts with the WSH and if so are they willing to break this association with the organizers of the unsanctioned event,” he added.

Bajwa, himself a former Olympian, made it clear that if the three top players didn’t clarify their positions they would not be selected for the Azlan Shah tournament, the squad for which will be announced on April 28th.

Butt, Wasim and Abbasi were members of the Pakistan team that won the Asian Games gold medal for the first time in 20 years last year in China.

Bajwa also said that if any player was found having ties with the unsanctioned World Hockey Series he would have nothing more to do with Pakistan hockey.

“Than the path of such players is different from that of Pakistan hockey,” he said.

Bajwa said they also have reports about some other players having entered into agreements with the WHS organisers including Pakistan’s Asian games captain Zeeshan Ashraf and former Olympian Mohammad Saqlain.

Zeeshan pulled out of the Azlan Shah Cup on personal grounds and is not attending the training camp.

“They will also be soon issued notices to explain their positions,” Bajwa added.

A breakaway Indian hockey federation set up has entered into a deal with a group to host the world hockey series from later this year in India with the organisers promising lucrative money to the players to play for franchises.

Several Pakistani cricketers had also rebelled against their cricket board to join the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League in 2007 including big names such as former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Imran Nazir, Muhammad Yousuf and Mohammad Sami.

Rehan Butt recently told a television channel that the players were being offered in millions of rupees to sign contracts with the unsanctioned series.