Usha Krira Chakara were given clearance on Monday by the Special Branch of Police to bring their five Pakistani players to participate in the ongoing Premier League Hockey.
Having released the Malaysian players after the Club Cup tournament, the club has been in trouble to field the playing eleven due to the suspension and injury problems of the local players as well as the unavailability of the Pakistan players for visa complications.
As a result, Usha requested the game’s governing body to halt the league as other clubs were playing with foreign players.
‘There were uncertainties over the clearance of five Pakistani players from the SB till today [Monday] noon. But they [SB] phoned us in afternoon to give all-clear to the Pakistani players’ entry into Bangladesh,’ said Usha manager Rafiqul Islam Kamal.
Usha had to play Wari Club in their first league match without any foreign recruits as the Pakistani players were kept waiting for the visa.
Aleem Bilal, Syed Kashif Shah and Ali Shan all play for the Pakistani national team and Asfaq Niwaz and Muhammad Irfan Junior were recently called to the Pakistan team national camp. The players are expected to arrive here by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC thrashed Azad Sporting Club 12-0 in their Premier League match at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Monday while in the other match of the day, Dhaka Wanderers Club defeated Sonali Bank 7-4 at the same venue.
-With New Age input
