Pakistan hockey in administrative meltdown after Australia fiasco, PHF chief steps down

Lahore: The controversy surrounding the Pakistani hockey team's tour of Australia has now escalated into a serious administrative crisis. Following allegations made by team captain Shakeel Ammad Butt, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Bugti has resigned from his post. He submitted his resignation to PHF Patron-in-Chief and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Tariq Bugti has demanded an impartial and transparent investigation into the entire matter. He has appealed to the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir to conduct a thorough inquiry into the mismanagement during the Australia tour to uncover the truth.

What allegations did Captain Shakeel make?

After returning from the Australia tour, Captain Shakeel Ammad Butt addressed the media and made serious allegations. He stated that the team had to wait for 13-14 hours at Sydney Airport. Upon arriving at the hotel in Canberra, it was discovered that the hotel management had not received the advance payment, forcing the players to wait until temporary arrangements were made.

The most shocking allegation was that the players had to clean the kitchen and wash the dishes themselves before the match. Shakeel Ammad Butt said that it was difficult to expect good performance from the players when they were in such circumstances. He also alleged that the players were warned of disciplinary action if they spoke to the media.

Pakistan suffered defeats against Australia and Germany during the tour, which also affected the team's performance. Amid this controversy, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) clarified that it had released more than 10 million Pakistani rupees to the PHF for the team's hotel arrangements. The PSB stated that a detailed report on the matter would be submitted to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the entire matter. It will be important to see at what level accountability is determined following the investigation. The Pakistani team, once a dominant force in international hockey, is now facing a crisis. The players' open dissatisfaction and the president's resignation have only added to the gravity of the situation.

All eyes are now on the outcome of the investigation and whether the Pakistani hockey team can regain its lost prestige and stability