Six month ban on striker Tariq Aziz

Lahore, Apr 1 (UNI) Pakistan Hockey Federation(PHF) today slapped a six-month ban on striker Tariq Aziz for hitting Australian player Robert Hammond in the final of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last week.

The ban was approved by PHF President Tariq Kirmani after receiving reports from team management and from observers who were watching the match when the incident took place.

Aziz was shown the red card for hitting Hammond. The Australian player had received stitches on his top lip.

The ban effectively rules Aziz out of the World Cup to be held in Germany in September.

The striker will also miss the World Cup qualifiers in China later this month, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and the Champions Trophy in Spain in July.

Even before this ban was imposed Tariq was not included in the list of 23 probables called for training-cum-selection trials for the World Cup qualifiers.

UNI XC HSB YA GC2004