Coach Muhammad Talib has saved both the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the National Coaching Centre (NCC) from reputational damage by pointing out that, if the installation of a synthetic turf infield for the new tartan track goes ahead, the venue would no longer meet international standards.
By: Newsdesk
Talib is a renowned former athlete and one of Pakistan’s most celebrated athletics coaches.
After learning that the PSB was planning to cover the infield of the tartan track at its National Coaching Centre with a synthetic turf football field, he pointed out that this would violate world athletics regulations and their track and field facilities manual.
According to the manual, an athletics venue that wants to be eligible to host international athletics events, should have an infield that is covered with natural grass. This is to facilitate sports like the discus throw, hammer throw and javelin. The landing position of the discus, hammer or javelin is much easier to record on a grass surface.
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Following the objections, the PSB called a high-level meeting to discuss the matter. It has now decided to go ahead with refurbishing the 30-year-old tartan track but to also postpone the installation of a synthetic turf infield until the next meeting of senior PSB officials.
The implications of the halting of the installation of a synthetic turf football surface are unknown.
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