Pakistan national hockey team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt has levelled serious allegations against the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and team management.
He accused them of gross mismanagement and subjecting players to psychological distress during the Australia tour.
Breaking his silence upon arrival in Lahore, the skipper claimed the squad endured conditions unfit for professional athletes.
Speaking to the media at the airport, Ammad Shakeel Butt confirmed that the reports emerging from Australia were accurate, saying the team faced circumstances no professional athlete should experience.
He alleged that players were forced to perform menial tasks, including cleaning kitchens, washing dishes, doing their own laundry, and scrubbing washrooms before heading to training sessions and matches.
“These are players who work tirelessly to represent their country,” Ammad Shakeel Butt said. “How can restrictions be imposed on them, and how can they perform after cleaning toilets and washing kitchenware?”
The captain further claimed that the management created an environment that left players mentally drained. He alleged that the squad was told to manage three daily meals within a limited budget of $115.
Ammad Shakeel Butt dismissed statements made by Tahir Zaman and others as baseless, while expressing satisfaction with his team’s performance despite the challenges.
He also accused the federation of attempting to divide the team by asking players individually whether they stood with the captain or the management. According to Butt, every player was approached separately and asked to choose sides, but he maintained that the entire squad remains united behind him.
Butt revealed that players were allegedly warned against speaking to the media and threatened with bans. “I do not accept the PHF’s code of conduct. I am under no pressure,” he said, adding that the players are fully aware of the wrongs committed against them.
Meanwhile, Noorish Sabah, Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), who received the team at the airport, confirmed that the PSB had arranged and paid for hotel accommodations in Australia, which were later cancelled by the PHF.
Addressing the media, she stated that the team management had misled the board. “If food and accommodation are not up to standard, performance will inevitably suffer,” she said.
Sabah clarified that while the PSB had taken steps to provide facilities, responsibility for the situation rested with the federation. She announced that a comprehensive inquiry report would be sent to the Prime Minister, stressing that mistreatment of national athletes would not be tolerated.
Despite the controversy, Butt expressed confidence in the team’s potential, stating that Pakistan has the ability to win the World Cup and Olympics. However, he emphasized the urgent need for a foreign coach to steer the team back on the right path.
