Pakistan Hockey captain Ammad Butt issues emotional appeal after Pro League campaign
- Laiba Abbasi
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Butt has issued an emotional statement following the conclusion of the national team’s FIH Pro League campaign, apologising to fans for the disappointing results while urging authorities to take immediate action to revive the sport.
In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Butt accepted responsibility for the team’s performances, saying the results “are not favourable” and apologising “to the whole nation.” He thanked supporters who continued to stand by the team despite a difficult campaign.
The captain insisted that the players had given everything they could, saying the burden of defeat is something they carry every day.
“Being a player, it is not easy to sleep with the weight of loss on the chest. It’s not that we have not tried. We have given the best possible we could.”
Butt stressed that Pakistan’s struggles go beyond performances on the field, arguing that the country’s hockey structure lacks the long-term planning and development systems enjoyed by the world’s leading nations.
Drawing a comparison with elite hockey countries, he said successful teams invest in continuous player development, whereas Pakistan’s players often wait until shortly before major tournaments for training camps to be organised.
The Pakistan captain also revealed that he has received the majority of the criticism following the team’s disappointing campaign but vowed to continue speaking out for the players.
“I have been the one who has faced the most backlash due to this, but I am not going to stop,” he wrote. “I will continue to speak out and do whatever is necessary for our players to get what they need to perform.”
Concluding his statement, Butt called on both
the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the government to move beyond reactive measures and implement meaningful reforms.
“Champions are not born, they are made,” he said. “Our Federation and our Government have to play their role. It is high time for action rather than reaction.”
The statement has sparked widespread discussion among hockey fans, with many echoing Butt’s call for structural reforms and greater investment in Pakistan’s national hockey programme.
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