Pakistan Hockey Federation has sacked its foreign coach from Holland Michel van den Heuvel for breaching his contract with the national hockey federation, appointing former Pakistan captain Akhtar Rasool as Chief Coach and the manager of national Hockey team.

"We have fired Michel who signed another foreign club in Europe without bringing the matter into the knowledge of PHF and there was no reason to retain him at this point no matter how fast the London Olympics are approaching ", PHF President Qasim Zia told newsmen after Executive Board meeting of PHF here on Thursday.

He said Akhtar takes over from Khawaja Junaid as the manager of the team and Junaid has been appointed as the coach of the team in place of Michel. There was no change in remaining team management comprising Ajmal Khan assistance coach and Shahid Khan as goalkeepers coach.

PHF President said the foreign coach did not respect the contract which he signed with the PHF and tried to challenge the authority of the national hockey federation by signing a European hockey club at a time when he was under contract with the PHF.

He said all those players who participated in Indian Hockey league their case has been referred to PHF disciplinary committee which will form recommendations in the light of PHF constitution and FIH directive for the executive board to give them a chance to plead case before the decision is reached.

Akhtar Rasool vowed to live up to the expectations and the confidence reposed on him by the executive board.