Pakistan Hockey Team revolts after Australia tour; captain Amad Shakeel Butt accuses management of “Lies and Humiliation”

LAHORE: Pakistan national hockey team captain Amad Shakeel Butt has launched a scathing attack on the team management and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), alleging severe mismanagement, broken promises and humiliating treatment during the recent Australia tour.

Addressing a packed press conference upon return from the World Cup qualifying round, Butt revealed that players were left stranded without proper hotel bookings, forced to cook their own meals, wash utensils for hours and clean their rooms and bathrooms before heading to the field.

“When we reached Australia, we spent 12 to 15 hours in Sydney with no arrangements. Then in Hobart, we sat in a hotel lobby for hours only to be told there was no booking,” he said. “The boys wake up in the morning, make their own breakfast, wash utensils for two to three hours, clean their bedrooms and toilets — how can we perform for Pakistan like this?”

‘We Were Told to Manage Three Meals in $115’

Butt disclosed that players were informed they would have to manage three daily meals within a $115 allowance — a claim he said was unprecedented in his decade-long international career.

“In all previous tours, meals were arranged through official hotel bookings. This is the first time in history we were told to manage our own food within the daily allowance,” he stated.

He further alleged confusion between the PHF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) over funding, with both institutions shifting blame onto each other.

“When we talk to the Sports Board, they say funds were released. When we talk to the federation, they say funds were not properly given. The team management has lied to us repeatedly,” Butt claimed.

Captain Refuses to Work Under Current Management

In a dramatic declaration, the captain announced he would not continue under the existing team management, naming officials he held responsible for the situation.

“We cannot work with this management. My entire team is with me. We are the ones who have faced this injustice,” he said. “My job is to take the team onto the field — arranging sponsors, fighting for daily expenses and managing logistics is not my responsibility.”

He also rejected the PHF’s code of conduct, alleging that players were warned against speaking publicly and threatened with bans.

“There is pressure on young players that if they speak, they will be banned. I am not afraid of anything,” he added.

Pending Dues and Collapsing Morale

Senior players accompanying the captain disclosed that daily allowances from multiple previous tours — including the Asian Champions Trophy, Asian Games and Junior World Cup — remain unpaid, amounting to tens of millions of rupees.

One player described the morale during the Australia leg as “finished,” claiming the team had to rely on the Pakistani community and Airbnb accommodations after official hotel bookings allegedly fell through.

“We were roaming the streets for one to two days. The morale was completely down,” a player said.

Appeal to Government and Army Chief

Butt directly appealed to Shehbaz Sharif and the Army Chief to intervene immediately, warning that Pakistan’s World Cup qualifying campaign in Egypt was just days away.

“This is a very important round for Pakistan hockey. We don’t have much time. The government must take action immediately,” he urged.

Despite the turmoil, the captain expressed confidence in his squad’s potential.

“I swear in front of the media — this is a team that can win the World Cup and Olympic titles for Pakistan. There is no shortage in performance. The real issues are external,” he asserted.

Growing Crisis in National Sport

The public outburst marks one of the most serious internal revolts in recent Pakistan hockey history, once regarded as the country’s national pride. With players united in protest and management under intense scrutiny, the crisis has deepened concerns about governance, financial transparency and structural reform within Pakistan’s hockey administration.

As calls for accountability grow louder, the coming days could prove decisive for the future direction of Pakistan hockey.