Auditor-General to carry out an audit of Pakistan Hockey Federation

Karachi: The Auditor-General of Pakistan is set to carry out an audit of the national hockey federation (PHF) accounts from 2008 to 2014 on the instructions of the finance ministry.

The AG Pakistan has got instructions in writing from the ministry and finance minister Ishaq Dar to carry out the audit and submit its report as soon as possible.

This development comes at a time when Pakistan hockey is facing its worst financial crisis and has pleaded for special funds from the government.

Having constantly ignoring the PHF pleas for the funds, the government has suddenly got into action after Hockey India (HI) publicly announced it was ready to help Pakistan hockey financially.

The announcement from the Indians put the PHF in an awkward position given the sensitivities of diplomatic, political and sporting relations between the two countries.

The government also lashed out at the PHF, making it clear that it was not releasing more funds as it had already given in more than one billion rupees to the Federation in the last five to six years and it didn't know how these funds were spent.

PHF secretary Rana Mujahid told a press conference in Karachi yesterday that the federation welcomed the government instructions to the AG to carry out a fresh audit of PHF finances.

"We welcome this move as an audit has already been carried out. We are satisfied that the government is now willing to release special funds after they are satisfied that the previous management spent funds properly," Mujahid said.

He admitted that the offer from Hockey India had put the PHF in an embarrassing position.

"It was embarrassing for us because Pakistan hockey has its own prestige and standing and we don't need help from anyone, leave alone India. If Hockey India was truly sincere about helping us it would have agreed by now to playing a bilateral Test series with us even at a neutral venue which they have avoided doing so far," he added.

The PHF secretary said the national training camp of the team had resumed in Lahore and the government had assured that the PHF would be able to send the team for preparatory tours to Australia and Korea and also for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Holland in June-July.

The PHF had earlier announced it was winding up a training camp in Rawalpindi as it couldn't pay daily allowances to players and coaches and cover other expenses for the camp set up for the Olympic qualifiers.