Kamran Ashraf takes golden handshake from PIA

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), once considered sporting powerhouse in the country, continued their decline in domestic sports as former hockey team captain Kamran Ashraf decided to take golden handshake, 'The News' has learnt.

A source told this correspondent that the former centre forward was forced to make this decision after seeing no future of sports in PIA.

He added that it is expected that the airlines will eventually decide to make golden handshake scheme mandatory as part of their policy.

Kamran represented PIA in domestic competitions for several years and was part of many of their successes.

"Around 11 players of various sports have taken gold handshakes from the PIA, including cricket great Wasim Akram and Olympian Shahid Ali Khan," he said.

He added that other sportsmen, including cricketers Aizaz Cheema, Shahryar Ghani, former hockey captain Muhammad Irfan and footballer manager Zafar Iqbal, have also been given the golden handshake.

The decline of PIA in sports is such that they have even missed participation in several of major domestic events during last two years, including the National Hockey Championship.