Power outage postpones hockey match
Yesterday's crucial Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League encounter between title contenders Usha Krira Chakra and Abahani has been shifted to today following power outage.
The turf at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium is generally watered before the start of each game, but as there was no electricity in that area since the previous night, the turf could not be prepared. The league committee waited for an hour after the scheduled time before announcing the postponement to the next day (Saturday).
“There is no electricity in some area of stadium from yesterday night. They (workers from power office) have been working at the sub-station in stadium area since the morning but they could not fix it yet,” said BHF general secretary Khaza Rahmatullah yesterday adding that it is too expensive for the federation to arrange heavy-weight generators.
In another move, the BHF suspended Mohammedan goalkeeper Mahbub Ullah Shakil for six matches and Abahani's substitute goalkeeper Aynul Islam for four matches following their unruly behaviour during the match between the two sides on Wednesday.
Mohammedan hockey manager Ariful Haque Prince was also warned for his behaviour.
The league committee took the decision on the basis of umpires' report which stated that Shakil punched Abahani Pakistani player Modassar while Aynul, coming from the side-bench, hit the umpires and hurled abuse toward other players, informed BHF treasurer Moinuddin Pila.
Meanwhile,Pila also informed that they would introduce refereeing system for the last match of the league which will be between Usha KC and Mohammedan SC in order to have a fair finish.
“The teams in that match will be allowed to make one appeal in either half against the umpires' decisions in D-box and we will be taking advantage of the live telecast of the match in this regard,” said Pila adding that if any team wins the appeal, they would be given another opportunity to appeal.
Mohammedan lead the table with a four-point advantage over second-placed Usha. If Usha can beat Abahani in today's match, they will cut the gap to a single point but a defeat against Abahani will allow Mohammedan to emerge champions before facing Usha on Monday.
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