Pakistan parliament to question hockey bosses, players

KARACHI: The National Assembly (NA) Sports Standing Committee will grill Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials and national players following the team’s disastrous showing in the Hockey World Cup in New Delhi.

“We would summon the PHF officials and players later this month to grill them on the World Cup debacle,” chairman NA Sports Standing Committee, Jamshed Dasti said.

“We are very disappointed on the team’s performance in the World Cup and believe that some major changes should be made in the team.”

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captains on Tuesday lambasted PHF secretary Asif Bajwa, calling him the reason behind the team’s poor showing.

“PHF secretary Asif Bajwa himself opted to become the manager, he was also posing as chief coach during matches, now he should take responsibility of failure too,” said former captain Islahuddin Siddiqui.

“When you take all the praise for victory, you should also be taking the responsibility of defeat,” Siddiqui said.

“PHF should probe reasons for the team’s poor show in the World Cup,” said Islahuddin, who led Pakistan World Cup triumph in the 1978 event.

Muhammad Saqlain, another Pakistan captain blamed the team management for the pathetic showing. Pakistan lost four of its five Pool B matches and will now be playing for the 11th-12 place in the 12-nation spectacle.

“The team management and not players is responsible for failure in World Cup,” said Saqlain. PHF president should take steps otherwise our national game will become part of history.”