LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan has sacked its hockey federation secretary just two months before the Beijing Olympics following a series of poor performances by the team, officials said.
"We have received a notification from the ministry of sports which says the secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Khalid Mahmood is sacked and Asif Bajwa will take over as interim secretary," a PHF spokesman said.
PHF president Zafarullah Jamali, a former prime minister of Pakistan, will continue in his post.
Pakistan, three times Olympic and four times world champions, have experienced a serious slump at international level. They finished a poor fourth in the Azlan Shah tournament held in Malaysia last month.
They also lost bilateral series to world champions Germany and lowly ranked Belgium on their tour of Europe, though they won a four-nation event in the Republic of Ireland beating Canada 3-2 in the final on Sunday.
Pakistan last won a major title in Australia when they won the World Cup in 1994. Their last Olympic title came at Los Angeles in 1984.
Mahmood, a former captain and Olympian, said he accepted the decision.
"This is part and parcel of life. If the government wants another man at the helm then I have no problem," said Mahmood.
The change came just two months before the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Pakistan are placed in pool B of the 12-nation event which starts from August 8. Reigning Olympic champions Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa are other teams in the pool.
Germany, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and China are placed in pool A
Pakistan sacks hockey chief ahead of Olympics
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Pakistan has sacked its hockey federation secretary just two months before the Beijing Olympics following a series of poor performances by the team, officials said.
"We have received a notification from the ministry of sports which says the secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Khalid Mahmood is sacked and Asif Bajwa will take over as interim secretary," a PHF spokesman said.
PHF president Zafarullah Jamali, a former prime minister of Pakistan, will continue in his post.
Pakistan, three times Olympic and four times world champions, have experienced a serious slump at international level. They finished a poor fourth in the Azlan Shah tournament held in Malaysia last month.
They also lost bilateral series to world champions Germany and lowly ranked Belgium on their tour of Europe, though they won a four-nation event in the Republic of Ireland beating Canada 3-2 in the final on Sunday.
Pakistan last won a major title in Australia when they won the World Cup in 1994. Their last Olympic title came at Los Angeles in 1984.
Mahmood, a former captain and Olympian, said he accepted the decision.
"This is part and parcel of life. If the government wants another man at the helm then I have no problem," said Mahmood.
The change came just two months before the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Pakistan are placed in pool B of the 12-nation event which starts from August 8. Reigning Olympic champions Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa are other teams in the pool.
Germany, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and China are placed in pool A
