LONDON (Kashmir English): The Pro League administration has formally apologized to the Pakistan Hockey Federation for the display of the incorrect Pakistan flag in the FIH Pro League.
In a letter to Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani, FIH Hockey Pro League Director Hilary Atkinson expressed her unconditional apology for the incorrect display of the Pakistani national flag.
The incident occurred during the national anthem ceremony before the FIH Pro League match between Pakistan and India in London, where the white part of the Pakistani flag was not included.
The letter states that the national flag of any team is an important symbol of its identity, pride, and representation, and this mistake has hurt the hearts of the Pakistan team, its supporters, the Pakistani people, and the Pakistan Hockey Federation, which the FIH deeply regrets.
In her letter, Hilary Atkinson accepted full responsibility for the incident and said that it was an administrative error, and all administrative and operational procedures will be reviewed to prevent such incidents in the future.
She assured that such a lapse in the national identity and dignity of any team will not be allowed to happen again in the future.
In its letter, the FIH Pro League administration appreciated the participation of the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the national team in the Pro League and said that maintaining respect and professionalism with all teams is its top priority.
It is pertinent to mention that the 4-3 defeat at the hands of India extended Pakistan’s losing streak to 13 matches and also relegated the side from the next edition of the FIH Pro League.
It should be noted that the display of the incomplete national flag of Pakistan during the national anthem ceremony before the match between Pakistan and India had led to a strong reaction on social media and hockey circles.
Critics had raised the question of how such a big mistake was overlooked in an international event, while the Pakistan team management was also criticized for not identifying this serious mistake before the start of the ceremony.
