Pakistan Hockey | News & Discussions

Really sad, if this is true and not fake news.


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into national hockey team's tumultuous Australian tour where the players had to roam in the streets for lock of accommodation and wash dishes before going to play a match. Pakistan were in Australia to play FIH Pro League matches.

The Pakistan hockey team had to wait for 13-14 hours at Sydney airport before their onward flight to Canberra. Things got more disturbing when the players checked into the hotel to find out that they had no prior bookings and no advance payment was made to the hotel management.

The players had to wait for hours and roamed the streets before an accommodation was arranged for them. The next afternoon, they had to play their first match against Australia which the team lost 2-3. Pakistan all its matches during the Australia leg, losing to the hosts as well as Germany.

We can't work with this current management of the federation. When players have to clean the kitchen and wash dishes before going to play a match what result do you expect from us?" Pakistan hockey captain Shakeel Ammad Butt told media after landing at the Lahore airport, lashing out the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

"What was pathetic was that even the Airbnb accommodation was arranged for 10 days when we had to stay for 13 days. We had to move into a cheaper residence after 10-days," added an angry Butt.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director-General Noor us Sabah told the media that they were preparing a detailed report for PM Shehbaz Sharif after he ordered an inquiry into the whole fiasco. Sharif is the patron-in-chief of the PHF.

Butt also disclosed that the PHF had warned the players of disciplinary action if they spoke to the media "I am speaking up because of what we have been through in Australia," he said. "We need a foreign coach if we have to move forward. We have a good combination of players but we need a foreign coach and good management," he added.

Regards
 
Pakistan spends no money in any sports except cricket where the nepotism is spreading like a virus.

That's unfortunate but sadly when you have almost nobody watching a hockey match in Pakistan.... nobody is going to spend money on this sport
 
SoulSpokesman said:
Really sad, if this is true and not fake news.


Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into national hockey team's tumultuous Australian tour where the players had to roam in the streets for lock of accommodation and wash dishes before going to play a match. Pakistan were in Australia to play FIH Pro League matches.

The Pakistan hockey team had to wait for 13-14 hours at Sydney airport before their onward flight to Canberra. Things got more disturbing when the players checked into the hotel to find out that they had no prior bookings and no advance payment was made to the hotel management.

The players had to wait for hours and roamed the streets before an accommodation was arranged for them. The next afternoon, they had to play their first match against Australia which the team lost 2-3. Pakistan all its matches during the Australia leg, losing to the hosts as well as Germany.

We can't work with this current management of the federation. When players have to clean the kitchen and wash dishes before going to play a match what result do you expect from us?" Pakistan hockey captain Shakeel Ammad Butt told media after landing at the Lahore airport, lashing out the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

"What was pathetic was that even the Airbnb accommodation was arranged for 10 days when we had to stay for 13 days. We had to move into a cheaper residence after 10-days," added an angry Butt.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director-General Noor us Sabah told the media that they were preparing a detailed report for PM Shehbaz Sharif after he ordered an inquiry into the whole fiasco. Sharif is the patron-in-chief of the PHF.

Butt also disclosed that the PHF had warned the players of disciplinary action if they spoke to the media "I am speaking up because of what we have been through in Australia," he said. "We need a foreign coach if we have to move forward. We have a good combination of players but we need a foreign coach and good management," he added.

Regards
Click to expand...

What is even more sad is the Indian English in the MSN article.
 
Mr X said:
Pakistan spends no money in any sports except cricket where the nepotism is spreading like a virus.

That's unfortunate but sadly when you have almost nobody watching a hockey match in Pakistan.... nobody is going to spend money on this sport
Click to expand...
One of my seniors was a Cmdr (R) in an org. He was narrating to me an incident from the 2000s. Air Marshall Nur Khan came for a talk. Among many things, he criticised that PAF is now all about darbari culture that there is no professionalism left (while all senior PAF leadership was sitting at front).

Imagine his standard.
 
Take the funding that is given to the good for nothing PCT cricketers and fund Hockey, Squash etc. The results will be far better. In both of these other sports, Pakistani athletes put up a real fight instead of surrendering meekly like they do in Cricket.
 
Goenitz said:
One of my seniors was a Cmdr (R) in an org. He was narrating to me an incident from the 2000s. Air Marshall Nur Khan came for a talk. Among many things, he criticised that PAF is now all about darbari culture that there is no professionalism left (while all senior PAF leadership was sitting at front).

Imagine his standard.
Click to expand...
As time passes, no culture remains immune to material consumption and the behaviors driven by that pull. That takes people and institutions away from the spartan way of living that the military life entails.

The words of Maj Gen Abubakar Mitha - "Be proud of your poverty" have given way to the lure of material consumption which leads many to do things which would be considered unprofessional in their institution.

My early life was spent in military housing. We sometimes had big spacious homes when allotted, but they were furnished with very spartan furniture from MES. During winters, living in the cold of Quetta, my father could only afford to have one room heated with firewood so the entire family would be in that room. Beaten up bicycles, motorcyles and a lucky few had the ownership of humble cars and that was the norm for the officers back then. When my father was doing staff course in Quetta (70s), we had Iranian officers there as well. Every single one of the Iranian officers had a nice imported car paid for by the Shah government. Even the Commandant of the Staff College (a Maj Gen) did not have access to such nice transportation. But the point of it is that most of the officers were content with their lot and used to do a whole lot more with what they had access to. But I will tell you that even then there were dishonest ppl.

My father's CO in one of his initial units that he was posted to was a ranker who had been fast-tracked to the officer corps. This guy used to steal from the rations of the jawans and would have it sent to his home. He was so shameless that the jawans used to call him out in the unit darbar and he would just smile it off. So you have stories like this from the past too.

Perhaps now people find other ways of enriching themselves. The issue is the culture of inexhaustible want for consumption all around. The military can keep some of its values intact but those values are constantly under stress (and this isn't specific to Pakistan, its all over the world).

Coming back to the topic on hand, no matter which field/sport, the grit to compete and be proud of your trade is of utmost importance. I have said this before, PCT fails because their fears overpower their love of the sport. You go out on the field, you play your heart out because you love the sport. That is all that the Pakistani nation expects from our players. At least I see the boys in PHT do that. They lost to Australia and Germany but they played well and competed. If they are given more resources, I think they will turn things around.
 
Last edited:
@Mr X

but sadly when you have almost nobody watching a hockey match in Pakistan...

The question is why, sir? I remember in the 1980s and 90s, Indians would flock to the stadium when the PHT came visiting for a tournament or bilateral series.

Regards
 
SoulSpokesman said:
@Mr X

but sadly when you have almost nobody watching a hockey match in Pakistan...

The question is why, sir? I remember in the 1980s and 90s, Indians would flock to the stadium when the PHT came visiting for a tournament or bilateral series.

Regards
Click to expand...
Pakistan was invincible when they used to play on natural grass. When the synthetic turf was introduced, it really damaged the hockey of both Pakistan and India
 

Left to roam around like helpless people; washed toilets,’ PAK hockey captain admits Sydney street horror​
​

Gautam Sodhi

Edited By Gautam Sodhi
Published: Feb 18, 2026, 18:46 IST | Updated: Feb 18, 2026, 18:53 IST
‘Left to roam around like helpless people; washed toilets,’ PAK hockey captain admits Sydney street horror
​

‘Left to roam around like helpless people; washed toilets,’ PAK hockey captain admits Sydney street horror Photograph: (Others)​

Story highlights​

Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt reveals the "nightmare" ordeal in Sydney. From washing toilets to roaming streets for 15 hours, Butt slams the PHF for humiliating the national team during their Australia tour. Read the full, shocking admission.​


Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt has opened up about his team’s Sydney horror episode, which left them stranded on the city’s streets for hours, made them wash dishes and toilets, bringing utter embarrassment to the team and the country globally. Days after Butt clarified (in a video posted on social media), revealing that everything was fine amid a viral video of hockey team players left roaming like helpless people, as he claimed, Ammad disclosed that it was a cover-up, as the team management pressurised him to do so to save the country’s grace.
Ammad claims that the team management informed him about this information reaching India, further urging him to release a video claiming all was well at their end to save them from international embarrassment. However, the real story was something else, and shocking to say the least.
Revealing in an interview, as also carried out by India Today, Butt admitted to the Sydney horror and how everything unfolded.



Pakistan travelled to Australia for the second leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League, and sometime during the tour, was left wandering the streets in Sydney, with nowhere to go. The team hotel they were stationed at cancelled their bookings due to uncleared payments by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), leaving the players to manage their accommodation elsewhere. Butt, who was at the centre of things, admitted that the players struggled to get food on time and that the whole episode was deeply embarrassing.
Also read | T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan punch Super 8 spot after Namibia rout, Sahibzada Farhan stars with ton
Although they eventually found accommodation at a local facility, Butt revealed the players washed dishes and toilets, even on match days.




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"If I talk about the Australia tour, I will begin with the flights and hotel arrangements. After landing in Sydney, we were made to roam around near the Opera Street for 12 to 15 hours like helpless people. No one took responsibility for our team. There was no hotel arranged for us, and we were not given food on time," Ammad said to reporters in Pakistan.
"From Sydney, we then travelled to Hobart. Let me first clarify that whatever news reached Pakistan is completely true. The videos that were sent from my team and by me were real. However, we were told by our team management that the matter had reached India. When India was mentioned, I personally felt that this was about my country, and my country should not be defamed. So I made a video saying that everything was fine and no injustice was happening with the team. But in reality, that was not true. Whatever messages, videos, and reports came out are all true," Pakistan’s hockey team captain continued.
WATCH VIDEO -​

‘Prepared breakfast, washed dishes’​


Butt revealed all didn’t end even after they found a place to stay, as the players had to prepare their breakfast and clean their bedrooms and toilets.
"The boys wake up and prepare their own breakfast. They wash dishes for two to three hours. They clean their bedrooms and toilets themselves. We have no proper rest time. The players have been mentally disturbed. How can we perform for Pakistan under such conditions?" Butt said.
Moreover, the Pakistan captain added that they also spoke with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), only to learn that they had granted funds to the PHF for the tour. Butt further revealed that the team management lied to them about not receiving money.
"I don’t know whether the Sports Board is at fault or the Pakistan Hockey Federation is at fault. But one thing is certain — our team management has lied to us repeatedly," said Butt.
"You asked who is responsible for the poor arrangements, poor accommodation, and poor food. I am holding the team management responsible. But I want to clarify that the Hockey Federation is also at fault. However, we do not directly communicate with the Federation; we communicate through team management. Sheikh Usman and Shehzaman made several claims to us, but those statements were baseless and false,” he continued.​

 
Blain2 said:
As time passes, no culture remains immune to material consumption and the behaviors driven by that pull. That takes people and institutions away from the spartan way of living that the military life entails.

The words of Maj Gen Abubakar Mitha - "Be proud of your poverty" have given way to the lure of material consumption which leads many to do things which would be considered unprofessional in their institution.

My early life was spent in military housing. We sometimes had big spacious homes when allotted, but they were furnished with very spartan furniture from MES. During winters, living in the cold of Quetta, my father could only afford to have one room heated with firewood so the entire family would be in that room. Beaten up bicycles, motorcyles and a lucky few had the ownership of humble cars and that was the norm for the officers back then. When my father was doing staff course in Quetta (70s), we had Iranian officers there as well. Every single one of the Iranian officers had a nice imported car paid for by the Shah government. Even the Commandant of the Staff College (a Maj Gen) did not have access to such nice transportation. But the point of it is that most of the officers were content with their lot and used to do a whole lot more with what they had access to. But I will tell you that even then there were dishonest ppl.

My father's CO in one of his initial units that he was posted to was a ranker who had been fast-tracked to the officer corps. This guy used to steal from the rations of the jawans and would have it sent to his home. He was so shameless that the jawans used to call him out in the unit darbar and he would just smile it off. So you have stories like this from the past too.

Perhaps now people find other ways of enriching themselves. The issue is the culture of inexhaustible want for consumption all around. The military can keep some of its values intact but those values are constantly under stress (and this isn't specific to Pakistan, its all over the world).

Coming back to the topic on hand, no matter which field/sport, the grit to compete and be proud of your trade is of utmost importance. I have said this before, PCT fails because their fears overpower their love of the sport. You go out on the field, you play your heart out because you love the sport. That is all that the Pakistani nation expects from our players. At least I see the boys in PHT do that. They lost to Australia and Germany but they played well and competed. If they are given more resources, I think they will turn things around.
Click to expand...
I understand materialism has paved its way into every segment of society. However, it could have been dealt with much better if our top leadership and elite had followed austerity. Even our Mullahs drive 2000cc+ cars (no issue, but it doesn't suit them. They should set their own example).

Then our quality education, medical facilities, housing, clothing, weddings, etc all tied to wealth and money. This pushes servicemen (army, police, bureaucrats, patwari, etc) to seek illicit means.

It is good that your father raised you with halal earnings. In my entire interaction with the army (father's friends, uncle, seniors, aunts, in-laws), I have found all disciplined and honest (some of their brats were really spoiled). Though none were above Maj. Gen. My brother-in-law is a Maj Gen. He has some gold and 2 plots. His father still lives in a 4 marla house in his native city (doesn't want to move). My uncle's family settled abroad on their own merit (secured jobs). Aunts have daughters only, who got married and settled.

In the end, it is a bad omen that army discipline is being used in the wrong direction.
 
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