Pakistan Hockey: Players Forced to Wash Dishes, Captain Slams PHF

Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt has leveled serious allegations against the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) following the team's return from the Australia tour. Speaking to the media at Lahore airport, Butt revealed that international players were forced to clean kitchens and wash dishes before their matches. According to the captain, the conditions faced by the team in Australia were derogatory for any professional athlete. He emphasized that expecting high-level performance on the field is unrealistic when players are subjected to such mismanagement and lack of basic facilities.

Allegations of Kitchen Duties and Dishwashing

Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt stated that during the Australia tour, players had to struggle for basic necessities. He claimed that the athletes were required to cook their own meals and subsequently handle the cleaning of the kitchen and utensils, while butt argued that when a player is occupied with domestic chores instead of focusing on match preparation, it inevitably affects their mental and physical readiness. He questioned the working style of the federation, stating that it's nearly impossible to continue under the current management. The captain also alleged that players were warned against speaking to the media regarding these issues.

Hotel Booking Crisis and Airport Delays

The extent of mismanagement was evident when the team arrived at Sydney airport. The players were reportedly forced to wait for approximately 13-14 hours as no proper accommodation arrangements had been made. Reports indicate that upon reaching the hotel before the FIH Pro League matches, the team was informed that their bookings were canceled due to non-payment of advances. Consequently, the team spent hours on the streets before being moved to an Airbnb residence. This temporary accommodation was booked for only 10 days, despite the team's scheduled 13-day stay, forcing them to later shift to a cheaper facility with fewer amenities.

Financial Discrepancies and PSB Stance

Signs of financial irregularities have emerged in this controversy. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), a government body, confirmed that it had released over 1 crore Pakistani rupees for the team's Australia tour and hotel arrangements. Despite this allocation, the players faced significant hardships due to the lack of confirmed bookings. Director General of PSB, Noor ul Sabah, has taken a strict stance, stating that the utilization of the allocated funds will be thoroughly investigated, while questions are being raised as to why the players were deprived of basic facilities and forced into substandard housing when a sufficient budget had been provided by the government.

Prime Minister's Intervention and Investigation

The turmoil in Pakistan hockey has reached the highest levels of government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also serves as the Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, has sought a detailed report on the entire episode. The Director General of the PSB assured that a comprehensive report would be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office. The government is investigating whether federation officials were guilty of deliberate negligence or if there was a misappropriation of funds. Top officials of the federation are likely to face scrutiny as the captain directly attributed the team's poor performance to management failure.

Demands for Management Overhaul and Foreign Coach

Captain Ammad Butt expressed deep concern regarding the future of Pakistan hockey. He noted that while there is no dearth of talent in the squad, the performance is declining due to a lack of professional management and direction. Butt has demanded the appointment of a foreign coach who understands the nuances of modern hockey and can prepare the team according to international standards. He stressed that unless there is a fundamental change in the federation's structure and the dignity of players is upheld, regaining Pakistan hockey's former glory will remain difficult. During the Australia tour, Pakistan suffered defeats against both the host nation and Germany.