Pakistan hockey team's participation in 2014 Commonwealth Games in jeopardy

The Pakistan men’s hockey team’s participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow seems to be in jeopardy due to the ongoing tussle between the sacked Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president chief Lt General (Retd.) Syed Arif Hasan and Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Akram Sahi – Sahi was elected as the new POA chief following the formation of an interim committee of the association by the Pakistan government.

The Pakistan government is believed to be not on good terms with Syed Arif Hasan and asked him to vacate his post following a Supreme Court order, which categorically barred office-bearers of sports bodies to hold an office for a third consecutive term.

The government considers the Gen Arif-led POA illegitimate and does not want him to run the affairs of the association.

What is working in favour of Lt General (Retd.) Syed Arif Hasan is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and CGF consider his group as the legitimate POA – that the association is the IOC’s representative.

As things stand, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is pressing the desperate button in a bid to take part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The PFF directly wrote to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) submitting their expression of interest for the 2014 Games, but the latter summarily spurned their request and instead asked them to put forth their request through the Pakistan Olympic Association. In fact, the Pakistan Hockey Federation has also written to FIH regarding the current situation.

The fate of the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games hangs in the balance as the PHF needs Lt General (Retd.) Syed Arif Hasan-led POA’s approval for the 2014 Games, as the CGF and IOC considers Hasan’s group as a legitimate body.

Hopefully the Pakistan Olympic Association will sort out its issues and pave the way for the national team’s participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.