PHF seeking PCB’s help for Belgium tour

KARACHI: The PHF has written a letter to PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, seeking financial help as it does not have funds to bear the expenditure of the national team.
PCB helped the federation in the past when it was headed by Lt Gen Tauqeer Zia, so PHF hopes it will provide some financial help, ‘The News’ learnt on Friday.
A communiqué to PCB chairman in this regard has been sent and PHF is hoping for a positive response, a source said.
The PHF has been battling financial crisis for a couple of years.
Government and the corporate sector has not come forward to help the PHF owing to the mismanagement and alleged plunder of previously given funds, which is stated to be about Rs1.25 billion in the last seven years. The federal government has clear cut refused to give any big amount to PHF.
The sources also said that the federal government had not released funds so far for Belgium tour.
PHF ignored coaches Olympian Nasir Ali, Sameer Hussain and Shafqat for the Belgium tour, while PHF president and secretary intend to go with the team, Olympian Qamar Zia said.
“When Shahnaz Sheikh and Islahuddin joined PHF, our group remained aloof because we knew that PHF’s management was not sincere. Now everyone can see that we were right as three coaches have been sidelined despite the fact that the Green-shirts are facing their biggest ever challenge,” he said.
He said that only a few days were left before the event, but PHF was still busy deciding who would go for foreign tour and who would not. “The players of the national team are still deprived of their basic salaries and other benefits. The coaches also did not get their salaries but PHF officials are planning foreign tours,” he said. He said that his group of Olympians would meet the audit committee to inform it about the misuse of funds and other wrongdoings. “We are waiting for its meetings,” the former Olympian said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that PHF would hold trials for the selection of national hockey team for qualifying rounds of Olympics on June 11-12. So far 21 players have reported at the training camp in Islamabad to camp commandant and chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh.