Qasim Zia scythed through the PHFs hierarchy in the wake of Pakistans disastrous World Cup humiliation sacking the entire selection committee and team management. Being an astute politician and realizing the inherent dangers, the PHF president soon after went on his 'damage control campaign determined to stem the public onslaught, which he had rightly expected would follow. This damage control exercise was carried out entirely to placate the critics and some of them vociferous demanding certain heads responsible for this historic debacle to role. In any democratic country, and being a top politician from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, Qasim Zia well-versed in democratic values, and taking cognizance of this agonizing situation the entire PHF set-up and that includes the president too would have resigned after what happened in New Delhis Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium. But it didnt happen so. Instead, apart from those acts of bravado, the result was very disappointing because it epitomized that the entire exercise was carried out to save one man, General Secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa and his omnipresent clique. Being a former gold medallist Olympian, Qasim Zia down deep in his heart knows where the fault lies and the person/persons responsible for bringing so much disrepute to national hockey. Whether the PHF chief would follow his instincts or not, Pakistan hockey is certainly doomed for many more years to come. The PHF chief knows well that what it means by vesting all powers in one hand which makes the person dictatorial. Whether it was the selection committee, panel of coaches or the players all were left powerless when the secretary was given carte blanche. Even one selector had conceded in a section of the press that 'whatever Bajwa wanted he always got it none had the temerity to rein in the all-powerful PHF secretary. The PHF president is aware of the fact that Asif Bajwa had sneaked into federations office through political back door, got elected General Secretary Khalid Mehmood removed without rhyme or reason through the sports ministry and then got his appointment legitimized through rubber stamp PHF Congress which had been convened prior to the World Cup. The hand-picked Executive Board gave a pusillanimous nod to the congress decision thus sowing the seeds of corruption which ultimately led to national hockeys destruction. As soon as the new management usurped power, hockey at international level slithered down. Unfortunately, the management in rather ridiculous way boasted of winning the World Cup qualification beating C-Grade teams in France losing to non-entity Poland notwithstanding. How one could be so ignorant to commend teams performance after it failed to qualify for this years Champions Trophy by losing rather pathetically against the then 9th place New Zealand in the final? With solid hockey career behind and well-versed in the technicalities of the game, Qasim, should have noticed the flaws in the national team and then gone down on serious business to remove them. Conversely, the PHF president wasnt hesitant in praising the players especially the likes of penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas and the aging midfielder Muhammad Waseem who finally proved disastrous in the World Cup. Surprisingly, the team manager Asif Bajwa has admitted in his report that it was badly managed outfit, ineptly trained both physically and tactically, which went to retrieve the lost glory in the World Cup. If such was the case then why the PHF president was not apprised of this precarious situation and if he was then Qasim should have taken strict actions to stem the rout. And if the team management for selfish motives had intentionally hidden the truth about teams capabilities, then their actions tantamount to treason. Putting a blind eye to these facts, the PHF president sallied forth to defend his secretary using every ploy from political to sports and succeeded in his crusade. First the toothless National Assemblys Standing Committee on Sports was cowed down using political muscles and then spineless former Olympians foray turned out to be a storm in a teacup. So, for the time being the PHFs management stays intact but how long? The national hockey is in total disarray. It has lost everything from selection committee to team management to panel of coaches. The PHF president has a heady task in front of him wherein he has to put all his expertise to save this national game. Hitherto, the PHF officials have fully exploited the lucrative lifestyle using all the federations funds at their behest. The national hockey has far drifted into the stormy waters and it will take Herculean efforts to get it back on the safe shores. Will hockeys phoenix rise from its ashes? Time and actions will tell.