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Pakistan men’s hockey team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt has accused the team management and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) of mental abuse and poor management during the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 Hobart leg in Australia, according to ANI. He said that during the tour, players were made to perform basic duties and had inadequate lodging. This is the complete story so far of the PHF’s Sydney Mismanagement and what has transpired until now.
According to reports, the PHF allegedly failed to pay hotel bills, preventing the Pakistani players from finding suitable lodging in Australia. Butt confirmed the rumours during a press conference at Lahore Airport, stating that before games, the players were required to clean the restrooms, wash their own clothes, and take care of the kitchen.
He further charged that by asking players to choose between backing the federation or the captain, the administration was trying to create conflict within the team.
“The federation asked every player separately if they were with the federation or the captain. We were told not to speak to the media or face a ban. I do not accept the PHF’s code of conduct. I am under no pressure. We know the wrongs committed against us.”
This occurred after they travelled for hours only to be turned away from the hotel designated for them because the PHF failed to make an advance payment, even though the organisation had received the necessary funds from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
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Director General of PSB’s comments on PHF’s Sydney Mismanagement
Noorish Sabah, the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), who was at the airport to greet the players, stated that the PSB had originally organised and funded hotel reservations in Australia, which were subsequently cancelled by the PHF. She claimed, “The team management lied to us. If food and accommodation are not up to standard, performance will inevitably suffer.”
Noorish additionally noted that the PSB had adequately arranged facilities for the athletes, asserting that the PHF was accountable for the difficulties encountered by the players. She confirmed that a detailed investigation report would be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasising that the treatment of national athletes is intolerable. She called on top officials to recognise the wrongs done to the players.
Upon their return to the country, at least nine players, spearheaded by Butt, called for the dismissal of the team management and the existing PHF leadership. Butt also claimed that most of the players had not received their daily allowances from the PSB and PHF for the past year. Bugti attributed the failure to PSB, asserting that the Board managed all the preparations for the tour and was “accountable for everything that occurred there.”
However, when inquired about a cheque of one million rupees that the PSB had dispatched to the PHF for the hotel accommodation costs, he did not provide a definitive answer.
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Head Coach Tahir Zaman steps down
In a different update, the head coach of the team, Tahir Zaman, announced that he was prepared to resign.
He blamed the players for being undisciplined and stated that the captain “freely used abusive language against others, which in turn affected the performance of the team.” Pakistan will go to Egypt in four months for the final qualifying tournament for the World Cup.
Tahir also mentioned that conversations concerning the funding for the Pro Hockey League took place with the Pakistan Sports Board. Various additional administrative matters were also addressed. He mentioned that the general secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had provided the team members with the Pro League schedule. Pakistan returned to the FIH Pro League after a six-year absence. He criticised the Pakistan Sports Board for mishandling funds.
He asserted that the payments for the hotel during Pakistan’s trip to Argentina were made solely one month following the team’s return. Pakistan visited Argentina for the FIH Pro League. Bugti proclaimed that he has resigned from his position as PHF president, but called on the Pakistan PM to create a committee to look into the mishandling of funds.
President Bugti resigns after PHF’s Sydney Mismanagement; Banned Butt for two years
On Thursday, the situation in Pakistan hockey worsened when President Tariq Bugti of the national federation stepped down following mismanagement that resulted in players being homeless during a recent Australia tour, although he did impose a two-year suspension on captain Ammad Shakeel Butt for his remarks against the PHF. Bugti mentioned that he has forwarded his resignation to the federation’s patron-in-chief, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“I have sent my resignation letter to the PM, but I urge him and Field Marshal Asim Munir to conduct an impartial inquiry into the whole situation which took place in Australia during the FIH Pro League hockey,” he said.
Bugti stated that one of his last actions as President was “to enforce a two-year suspension on the national team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt from both domestic and international hockey for tarnishing the reputation of Pakistan hockey.”
Tahir Zaman, the head coach of Pakistan, has also expressed his willingness to step down. Pakistan has not secured a victory in the current season of the FIH Pro League. They sit in ninth and last place with no points from eight games.
Mohsin Naqvi’s support, and temporary president announced
Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), met with the national hockey team’s players in Lahore on Thursday to listen to their concerns and reassure them of his complete support in the wake of the disastrous Australia tour during the Pro Hockey League.
The players told Naqvi about the negative experiences they had during the league during today’s meeting, according to a PCB statement. Naqvi apologised for the hockey players’ abuse and told them that the board would take action to guarantee better treatment going forward.
Naqvi also gave the players checks of Rs 1 million apiece for finishing second in the Six-Nation Hockey Tournament as an acknowledgement of their efforts. The players expressed their gratitude to Naqvi for his encouragement and support.
Muhyiddin Wani, the Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination, has been designated as the temporary president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Following his appointment as ad hoc president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Muhyiddin Wani declared the immediate removal of the two-year ban that was placed just a day prior on national team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt.
Wani restated his dedication to reviving and enhancing hockey in Pakistan.
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