Captain-Management Rift Puts Pakistan Hockey on Edge Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

By Muhammad Awais :

Pakistan hockey has been plunged into fresh uncertainty after serious allegations by national captain Ammad Butt over mismanagement during the team’s recent tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League second leg.

Soon after returning to Lahore, Ammad publicly accused the team management of administrative failures, claiming players were left without proper accommodation and basic arrangements during the trip. The controversy has cast doubt over the future of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), especially with World Cup qualifiers in Egypt just days away.

Ammad, joined by several senior players, urged the PHF to remove head coach Tahir Zaman, manager-cum-assistant coach Usman Sheikh and assistant coach Zeeshan Ashraf. In response, the trio held a press conference at Lahore’s National Hockey Stadium, defending their handling of the tour and submitting a detailed report to the federation.

The situation has been further complicated by tensions between the PHF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), with both sides blaming each other for the logistical breakdown.

According to Ammad, the squad faced significant hardship upon arrival in Australia. He alleged that players spent long hours in Sydney without confirmed accommodation and later discovered that hotel bookings in Hobart had not been properly secured due to funding issues.

“We had to spend hours under the open sky and were later told there was no confirmed booking,” the captain said, adding that players were forced to prepare their own meals, wash dishes and clean clothes during the tour.

He also claimed confusion over tour funds, stating that while the PSB insisted it had released adequate financial support, the management maintained the amount was insufficient. The captain further revealed that some players had not received daily allowances for extended periods, including outstanding payments from previous years.

In a dramatic appeal, Ammad called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior state authorities to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.

Pakistan endured a difficult campaign in Australia, losing all four matches of the second leg against Australia and Germany. The team has yet to register a win in the current Pro League season.

Addressing criticism over a previously circulated video in which he appeared satisfied with the team’s arrangements, Ammad said he had made the statement in what he believed was the national interest after being advised to avoid giving foreign media an opportunity to criticize Pakistan.

Head coach Tahir Zaman rejected the captain’s claims, insisting the team stayed in well-equipped villas after hotel payment complications arose. He maintained that the squad spent only a few hours in Sydney before alternative arrangements were made and that members of the Pakistani community provided support.

“If Pakistan can qualify for the World Cup without me, I am ready to step aside,” Tahir said, emphasizing that sacrifices are sometimes necessary when representing the country.

He also alleged that issues of indiscipline within the squad had existed previously and condemned what he described as inappropriate language directed at hockey legend Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, who accompanied the team as an observer.

Manager Usman Sheikh clarified that while the first leg of the Pro League in Argentina was arranged with the support of the International Hockey Federation, the Australia leg logistics were handled by the PSB. He noted that tour funds were transferred shortly before departure, which may have contributed to complications.

As the PHF prepares to meet senior players to hear their concerns, the federation faces mounting pressure to resolve the dispute swiftly. With World Cup qualifiers looming, Pakistan hockey finds itself battling instability off the field while striving to recover form on it.