Out on the streets

IT had been in the offing for a long time but the latest controversy proved too much for Tariq Hussain Bugti to cling to his role as president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. A fraught Thursday was reflective of that, along with some other issues. The woes of the national team’s players were finally heard, while Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi showed his increasing influence in the realm of sports. Mr Naqvi came to the aid of the hockey team soon after Mr Bugti resigned; stating that the PCB would try to accommodate them in every possible way. He ensured the team’s participation in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Egypt, which had been under a cloud after Mr Bugti stepped down. The outgoing PHF chief had also slapped a two-year ban on captain Ammad Butt for speaking out on the struggles the national team faced during their FIH Pro League Commitments in Australia. Ammad’s ban was later lifted by interim PHF president Mohyuddin Wani, who said it signalled a fresh start as Pakistan looks to return to its former standing in the game.

That is easier said than done. Pakistan hockey’s troubles have been unending. It was embarrassing to see the players of a country whose past teams won four World Cups and three Olympic golds stranded in Australia, forced to spend hours on the streets without a hotel booking. Players had also voiced concerns on the tour earlier when they said they had been forced to cook themselves and wash utensils during their stay at an Airbnb. For the last several years, that has been the lot of Pakistan’s hockey players. Years of mismanagement — both financial and organisational — have led to the PHF being ever-reliant on government funding. Mr Bugti’s appointment as PHF chief by interim prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar was seen as a step to rescue the national game from years of turmoil. He had been assigned to hold fresh PHF elections, but there has been no headway regarding that. There has also been little progress on the audit of the PHF, whose previous leadership is accused of rampant corruption. All these issues need to be addressed immediately. It is imperative that the interim PHF leadership takes corrective action to end the many years of suffering endured by Pakistan hockey.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026

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