LAHORE: The Secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa termed the incident of fielding 12 players against Japan in the Hockey Asia Cup 2022 a ‘human error’, whereas, announced that the inquiry committee is investigating the matter.

Asif, while talking to the media here opined on the costly error by national team in the Asia Cup, which prevented their qualification into the next round, by terming it to be a ‘human error’.

“An issue came up from the Asia Cup of fielding 12 players in a match and the head coach has also taken the responsibility of that blunder, since he is the one who decides when and which player will go on the field,” Asif stated.

“I, personally, think that it was a human error, while the inquiry committee is investigating the matter,” he maintained.

The PHF secretary also announced that the national team’s manager Khawaja Junaid will not be continuing with his position in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 as the latter expressed his desire to work as a technocrat.

“Khawaja Junaid has done a great job, he has been a great manager but he will not be continuing as the manager for the Commonwealth Games,” Asif announced.

“We have allowed Junaid to resign from his position as he is willing to work as a technocrat,” he added.

Junaid, on the other hand, asserted Asif and confirmed that he had previously apologized to continue as the manager as he claimed to have vast experience working in the field.

“I have the experience of working on the ground and I want to continue to work with relevance to my experience. I had already told the federation before the Asia Cup that I can’t work as a manager,” Junaid stated.

READ: Daryl Mitchell equals Sir Don Bradman’s 92-years-old record