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Pakistan bans players from Indian World Series Hockey: Report
Published: November 15, 2011
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) warned Pakistani hockey players of a domestic ban if they play in the $2 million World Series Hockey (WSH) to be held in India next month, reported an Indian news agency.
According to a report by Press Trust of India (PTI), PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa said there was no question of Pakistan taking part in the series. He said that the Chinese team will be touring Pakistan from December 19 and the national team will play against them.
He said the reason behind this ban is that the International Hockey Federation (FIH), in a letter, said that the WSH was not affiliated with the federation, thus making the league unsanctioned.
FIH has not only threatened to ban players from their future tournaments if they take part in the WSH, but has also suggested the players to wait till 2013 when FIH and Hockey India would launch their own world league.
Almost nine Pakistani players, including striker Rehan Butt, former captain Zeeshan Arif and drag-flicker Syed Imran Warsi, are believed to have signed the contract with WSH. Talking to PTI about the contract, Butt said,
It is clearly mentioned in our contract that we can stay out of the league if our job is in jeopardy. In present scenario, if we play the league, then not only we will have to face a ban from international and domestic hockey, but might lose our jobs too.
Ashraf also showed reluctance over playing the series over the risk of losing his job.
There are around 176 players, including 40 foreigners from top hockey-playing nations, set to take part in the series starting on December 15. The eight-team franchise-based series is a joint venture of the IHF and Nimbus Sport. But the IHF and HI are currently locked in a bitter tussle to run the game within India.
Earlier, Hockey India also launched a new hockey league and warned players and officials participating in WSH of serious implications.
Published: November 15, 2011
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) warned Pakistani hockey players of a domestic ban if they play in the $2 million World Series Hockey (WSH) to be held in India next month, reported an Indian news agency.
According to a report by Press Trust of India (PTI), PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa said there was no question of Pakistan taking part in the series. He said that the Chinese team will be touring Pakistan from December 19 and the national team will play against them.
He said the reason behind this ban is that the International Hockey Federation (FIH), in a letter, said that the WSH was not affiliated with the federation, thus making the league unsanctioned.
FIH has not only threatened to ban players from their future tournaments if they take part in the WSH, but has also suggested the players to wait till 2013 when FIH and Hockey India would launch their own world league.
Almost nine Pakistani players, including striker Rehan Butt, former captain Zeeshan Arif and drag-flicker Syed Imran Warsi, are believed to have signed the contract with WSH. Talking to PTI about the contract, Butt said,
It is clearly mentioned in our contract that we can stay out of the league if our job is in jeopardy. In present scenario, if we play the league, then not only we will have to face a ban from international and domestic hockey, but might lose our jobs too.
Ashraf also showed reluctance over playing the series over the risk of losing his job.
There are around 176 players, including 40 foreigners from top hockey-playing nations, set to take part in the series starting on December 15. The eight-team franchise-based series is a joint venture of the IHF and Nimbus Sport. But the IHF and HI are currently locked in a bitter tussle to run the game within India.
Earlier, Hockey India also launched a new hockey league and warned players and officials participating in WSH of serious implications.
