Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), said he would attend the FIH Executive Council meeting in Switzerland in mid-March.
He said “The News” on Sunday from Islamabad that he will inform the board why Pakistan can not take part in the Pro League.
Shahbaz said he would do his best to persuade the other board members not to isolate Pakistan and take into account Pakistan’s contribution to the world of hockey.
FIH threw Pakistan out of the Pro League after PHF announced that the team could not play the first three games. The PHF secretary said he would try to control the damage by establishing his contacts among the high-ups of the ice hockey world.
He said he was confident that FIH would not prevent Pakistan from keeping an eye on Pakistan’s services. He said PHF is planning how to tackle the situation and prepare the young team.
The PHF has disbanded Pakistan’s training camp in Lahore after it was confirmed that the Green shirts will not participate in the Pro League. “Right now we have to organize the Pakistan Super Hockey League (PSHL) successfully,” Shahbaz said, adding that foreign players would be taking part in the league and playing competitive games in Pakistan.
He said that PHF made arrangements for PSHL and that he himself had contact with many foreign players. In the first week of February, the details of the PSHL would be announced.
The newly appointed secretary of the IPC ministry has assured the PHF that the federal government would fully support them in developing the national game. A total of 12 new players were added to the 18-member Pro League team. The players do not know when they will play their first international match.
