From correspondents in Sindh, Pakistan, 04:30 PM IST

Pakistan's Olympians are planning to overthrow the ruling hockey regime in a bid to 'save the country's national sport'.

Over two dozen Olympians and ex-internationals have announced plans to launch a campaign from Thursday aimed at getting rid of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who they believe is responsible for hockey's steady decline here.

The former stalwarts have decided to join hands in a bid to get Jamali sacked and will reveal their strategy to help install professionals in the PHF for the betterment of the sport hockey at Thursday's gathering at a local hotel here, The News reported Wednesday.

Jamali took over as PHF president in 2006 and under him Pakistan's hockey fortunes have taken a nosedive. The most recent setback came in the form of a disappointing eighth place finish in the Beijing Olympics - Pakistan's worst showing in Olympic history.

National coaches and selectors resigned following the Beijing debacle but Jamali, who many believe is solely responsible for the Olympic humiliation, has refused to take the blame for the team's horrible slump.

However, former Olympians like Hassan Sardar and Hanif Khan disagree and will form an action group against Jamali.

'A lot of former Olympians and internationals agree that Jamali is the main culprit behind Pakistan's hockey slump and should be shown the door,' Shafiq Ahmed, a former international, said.

'The purpose of Thursday's get-together is to streamline a strategy to help hockey get rid of him and also to find ways and means to help our national game revive its glory days,' he stressed

(Staff Writer, © IANS)