'Stay away from WSH or face 5-year bans'

Lahore: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday threatened to impose five-year bans on players who opt to play in the unsanctioned tournaments such as the much-hyped World Series Hockey (WSH), planned in India.

The decision was taken at PHF's General Council meeting, where it also decided that the federation would take legal action against former Olympians who are making allegations of corruption and misuse of power against PHF officials.

"The council has unanimously agreed that all those players who defy the PHF and go and play in any tournament that is not sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation will be immediately banned for five years and would not be able to play in Pakistan," PHF President Qasim Zia said.

A number of leading Pakistani players have signed up for different teams in the lucrative WSH which has been deferred to February 2012 by the organisers who are offering handsome payments to players.

Forward Rehan Butt, former Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ashraf, half-backs Waseem Ahmed and Shakeel Abbasi, goalkeeper Salman Akbar and some other players are said to have signed deals with the WSH franchises.

Zia said the council also decided that while it had no issues with former Olympians criticising the PHF or its working, it would no longer tolerate allegations of corruption and misuse of power.

"Former Olympians are free to criticise the federation or performance of the team but we can't have any of them making serious and unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against PHF officials," Zia said.

Former Olympians Naved Alam and Mansoor Ahmed had recently alleged that some PHF officials including secretary Asif Bajwa were involved in human trafficking and misuse of funds in the federation.

Zia said the council had decided that legal action would be initiated against such players so that either they present proof or pay damages.

The council also reviewed the performance of the senior and junior teams for the year 2011 and also discussed preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.

"There was also a lot of debate on performance of Dutch coach Van Den, specially his reluctance to remain in Pakistan for any long period of time," one source said.

The Dutch coach has come in for criticism after Pakistan finished seventh in the eight-team Champions Trophy in New Zealand and he also skipped the recent home series against China because of Christmas vacations.