Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The incompetent Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has set a new example in the history of country’s sports by pulling out basketball teams from the national contingent, just a week before athletes showcase their skills at the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games. The Games are scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 12 to 22. The 189-strong Pakistan contingent – comprising players and officials approved by the PSB for the Games – did not include national men and women basketball teams and their six officials. The PSB on Thursday announced the final contingent for Baku in which six officials of the contingent besides the basketball men and women teams -each consisting of four players and one coach – are not included. Interestingly, the basketball players attended a training camp for the Islamic Solidarity Games at Islamabad’s PSB Complex for three months.

However, to their utter disappointment, the basketball players heard the sad news – at the time of the players’ departure – that they were not part of the contingent. Though Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBF) secretary general Khalid Bashir is not willing to make any comment on the PSB decision, Pakistan Olympic Association secretary general Khalid Mahmood has said the POA is taking up the matter with the PSB. “We just came to know about the decision of pulling out the basketball players from the contingent. Therefore, we can’t make any comment. Our first priority will be to send the basketball teams to Baku with the PSB support,” said Khalid. “We received the names of the members of contingent in which six officials of the contingent, besides the basketball teams are not included. We are in touch with the PSB to know the actual reason behind this decision of excluding basketball teams and hopefully all members will go to Baku.”