Musaratullah appointed PHF director general

National junior hockey championship is likely to be extended by a month

KARACHI: Brig (Retd) Musaratullah Khan has been appointed as director general development of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and has assumed his charge in the PHF’s head office in Lahore, ‘The News’ learnt on Friday.

Informed sources have told that the PHF president Khalid Khokhar has appointed him to run the affairs of hockey smoothly across the country.

Musartullah remained secretary PHF from early 2000 to mid 2006.  

His appointment is believed to be part of the developments announced by the PHF president Khalid Khokhar in Karachi during a press briefing before the start of the 62nd National hockey championship earlier this month. Khalid had said that the Federation would appoint a few directors.

Meanwhile, it has also been learnt that the PHF is considering to extend the national junior hockey championship by a month, which is scheduled to be held in February in Lahore.

The sources in the PHF have told that the final decision is yet to be taken, but the Federation is planning to move the championship to March. Moreover, the new venue could be Bahawalpur as well.

The Chief of Naval Staff Hockey Championship will be held in Karachi from January 18, followed by the Chief of Army Staff Hockey Championship in March. Therefore, the PHF wants all three big national events to be held in a sequence, which will help in restoring the confidence of hockey fraternity and boost the game across the country.

“The junior players will also be able to participate in these events, which will leave no question pertaining to a lack of hockey,” the sources added. All the events are offering lucrative cash rewards and prizes.

The sources also said that the PHF had started working on introducing a professional hockey league in which foreign players will be invited and the idea had been presented to the PHF high-ups.