Pakistan

Pakistan rebuilds its image as a country safe for elite sporting events when six-nation Champions Trophy kicks off here on Saturday with a match between defending champions Holland and New Zealand at renovated National Hockey Stadium.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Pakistan was deprived of prestigious events including the 2001 chapter of the Champions Trophy which was shifted to Holland by the games ruling body, FIH, on security concerns.

The shifting was a great set back, in terms of financial aspects as well as for the sport. But the major damage was done to Pakistan’ reputation and other countries followed the suit and refused to visit Pakistan to take part in the sporting events, other than hockey.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) perturbed by the denial of the countries to visit for Champions Trophy and fulfilling commitments in future, raised its protest at the forum of FIH but nothing was done to help them out after suffering huge losses. The PHF did not give up hope and continued its struggle and finally got the FIH nod to host the year 2004 edition.

“It was a difficult situation for us and we acted patiently and eventually convinced the FIH to allocate us the Champions Trophy which is finally taking place,” said PHF secretary Musarrat Ullah Khan while talking to this agency on the eve of Champions Trophy.

“There was never a problem regarding security of the teams and safety of the players even in the year 2001, it was a baseless propaganda of certain quarters due to which all major sports activities which were to take place were shifted out of Pakistan.”

He said if the security was not good then a number of high profile events would have not taken place in Pakistan including the World Squash Championship, qualifying round of World Polo Championship, visits of South Africa, New Zealand and Indian cricket teams and visit of South Korean tennis team for Davis Cup tie in the past 14 months. “These were the examples which inspired the FIH to allot Champions Trophy to Pakistan and it also convinced the other countries to visit Pakistan without any fear of security concerns,” he said.

The PHF official said the successful holding of the Champions Trophy would help build country’s image as an ideal place for sporting events besides promoting tourism. app

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