Lahore – In a significant blow to Pakistan’s national sport, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has revoked the hosting rights for the Olympic qualifying round, originally scheduled for January next year in Lahore. The decision was communicated to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and was attributed to non-cooperation and governmental interference in PHF affairs, as stated in a press release issued by the PHF on Tuesday.
The PHF press release emphasized the necessity of government cooperation and support for hosting international events, pointing to the indispensable role of Pakistan’s government, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, and the Pakistan Sports Board. Organizing the Olympic Qualifier without the backing of the Government of Pakistan was deemed unattainable, leading to the withdrawal of hosting rights.
Notably, the PHF had secured hosting rights for the 2024 Olympic Qualifier event on a global scale, marking a return to such prestigious events since the 1990 World Cup and the 1994 Champions Trophy. The PHF had diligently prepared for this opportunity. However, India had expressed substantial reservations regarding Pakistan’s role as the host, with former FIH president Narendra Batra openly criticizing Pakistan’s hosting decision and raising concerns about the state of hockey infrastructure in Lahore.
In response to the FIH’s decision, PHF Secretary Haider Hussain expressed disappointment, characterizing it as a setback for Pakistan hockey. He underscored the considerable effort invested in securing the event and highlighted its potential to rejuvenate international hockey in Pakistan while offering the nation a better chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While acknowledging India’s opposition to Pakistan hosting the event, Haider Hussain raised questions about the negative influence that interfered in PHF affairs, ultimately appeasing India. He revealed that PHF’s ability to meet the FIH’s financial requirements for the event was hampered when their bank accounts were frozen on the advice of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) just before the payment deadline.
Haider Hussain expressed concern that a similar attitude from the PSB could lead to Pakistan losing the hosting rights for next year’s South Asian Games due to disagreements between the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the PSB, with time running short.
He speculated that the FIH might allocate the Olympic qualifying event to India in light of recent developments.
Haider Hussain lamented the tendency for anti-hockey factions to launch campaigns against positive developments in the country’s hockey sector to protect their vested interests.
Regarding the no-confidence motion against him, Haider emphasized that individuals such as Akhtar Rasool, Asif Bajwa, Rana Mujahid, and Shahbaz Senior, who spearheaded the campaign against him, were not even members of the PHF Congress eligible to vote against his leadership.
