ISLAMABAD: The International Hockey Federation (IHF) has fined Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for not sending the team in World Pro-Hockey League.
Pakistan Hockey Federation has to pay the penalty of Rs four million.
Pakistan withdrew from the commitment to participate in the League just days ahead of the start of the event, citing financial constraints. The decision came hard on the FIH Pro League schedule. The international body had to make many adjustments to make sure that the League went ahead.
The FIH Executive Board that met in Lausanne, Switzerland, a month back decided to refer the matter to its disciplinary commission.
The committee decided to impose a fine on Pakistan for failing to travel to Argentina, New Zealand and Australia for the first leg of the Pro League. The committee is of the view that since all the arrangements for matches in these countries were finalised, tickets and sponsorship were sold well ahead of this international commitment, the onus was on Pakistan to pay the damages or to make up for these expenditures.
“It was because of Pakistan’s withdrawal that these countries suffered financially,” the committee is said to have communicated to the PHF. “Had Pakistan played the first leg of the Pro League engagements, there was every potential that all these three federations would have received extra benefits for hosting the Pro League matches.”
