PHF summons 8 players for playing in WSH

Eight senior Pakistani players have been summoned by the Pakistan Hockey Federation for a disciplinary hearing on May 7 for participating in the unsanctioned World Series Hockey in India.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation said on Saturday that Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Shakeel Abbasi, Zeeshan Ashraf, Tariq Aziz, Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood, and Mudassar Ali Khan had violated the constitution of PHF and International Hockey Federation (FIH) by appearing in the WSH.

"The World Series Hockey organised by the Nimbus Sport was neither sanctioned nor recognised by the FIH or PHF. The players have been issued show-cause notices to appear on May 7 before the disciplinary committee to explain their point of view," a PHF official said.

Atleast four out of the eight players show-caused by the PHF stand a chance of being selected in the national squad for the London Olympics.

"Yes Rehan Butt, Abbasi, Waseem and Warsi could still be considered by the selectors but first they must be cleared to play by the PHF disciplinary committee," a source in the federation said.

He said if the players are found guilty they could face varying punishments from fines to bans.

Warsi, in particular, excelled in the WSH -- he was the joint top-scorer of the event for the Chennai team.