Qasim Zia takes over as Jamali finally quits

KARACHI - Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has resigned as president of Pakistan Hockey Federation after an uneventful 22 months stint as the head of the national federation which saw Pakistan hockey slump to its lowest ranking in Beijing Olympics in middle of August this year.

The Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani appointed former Olympian Qasim Zia as new head of the national hockey chief.

Jamali who was named the president of the PHF in December 2006 held a press briefing here Monday in the open on the lawns of the Hockey Club of Pakistan where he formally announced his decision to quit the prestigious office stating that he had already informed the prime minister who is the patron of the PHF of his decision in the morning and would fax his resignation as soon as power was restored at the HCP.

The media briefing was originally was to be held inside the air-conditions media room at the HCP but was shifted at the last moment into the open on to the lawns due to power failure.

He also announced that chief coach and manager of Pakistan junior team former Olympian and his close friend Jahangir Butt, junior coach Kamran Ashraf and deputy coach Navaid Alam along with Waseeq Ahmed, the PHF director of development have also given their resignations. Except for Kamran Ashraf and Navaid Alam others were present the briefing. Islahuddin was also there.

Jamali's resignation came just a day before a crucial meeting of the PHF Board which would be held on Tuesday at the HCP. In the absence of a new president of the PHF, the senior most vice president would preside over the meeting which is expected to appoint number of committees including a new national selection committee.