Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticizes cheque given to hockey captain Ammad Butt

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly criticized the treatment of national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, after a cheque of Rs. 5,600 was issued to him as a stipend during his recent visit to Islamabad.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Khawaja Asif commented that Pakistan's national sport has suffered both at the hands of “mafias controlling hockey” and the “apathy of the government.”

“Some mafias ruined hockey, and some of it was due to government indifference,” the minister wrote in a strongly worded post.

 The controversy began when Ammad Butt revealed he was given a cheque of Rs. 5,600 for his travel to attend a TV show in Islamabad. He sarcastically noted that the amount didn’t even cover his toll tax expenses.

“These 5,600 rupees don’t even cover the toll payments,” Ammad reportedly remarked.

However, in a follow-up clarification, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) stated that the amount was not meant to cover travel expenses. Instead, it was a camp allowance provided to players as part of their participation in the training camp ahead of the FIH Nations Cup.

“There was a misunderstanding, and it has been cleared. The Rs. 5,600 was a pocket allowance given to all players attending the Nations Cup camp,” said a PSB spokesperson.

The board further clarified that players, including Ammad, had been invited to a television appearance, and the payment had no link to actual travel reimbursements.

The incident has reignited discussions around the treatment of national athletes, with many questioning the seriousness of government support for sports other than cricket. Ammad later confirmed that he had received clarification from the authorities, but the issue continues to spark reactions from fans and officials alike.