PHF executive board, congress meeting in November

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) executive council and congress meeting will be held in November, ‘The News’ learnt on Friday.
In the meeting, PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed and treasurer Ikhlaq Usmani will take a vote of confidence. The approval of senior and junior hockey teams’ foreign tours among other important issues are also likely to be discussed.
According to sources, routine work at the PHF secretariat in Lahore — which is run by the PHF secretary — is being affected as Shahbaz has so far avoided any direct involvement as he has not yet taken a vote of confidence.
It is expected that some factions of Punjab hockey want to give tough time to the newly-appointed PHF management in the congress meeting.
Sources said that the meeting could not be held earlier due to various engagements of the newly-appointed management of Pakistan hockey.
The PHF is busy managing the final preparations for youth hockey team’s participation in the Junior Asia Cup 2015. The tournament is vital for Pakistan as it serves as qualifiers for Junior Hockey World Cup to be held next year.
Pakistan’s participation in the Junior Hockey World Cup is crucial for future of the sport in the country after national senior team’s failure to qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016.
The final dates of the executive board and congress meeting would be announced after the junior team’s departure to Malaysia, the source added.