The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is facing renewed criticism from its players over unpaid dues and reduced training camp allowances ahead of the FIH Hockey Men's World Cup, scheduled for August in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Allowance Discrepancies Spark Outrage
The PHF's interim management announced that players and officials would receive a daily allowance of USD 110 during foreign tours. However, players have reported that their daily allowance during domestic training camps has been slashed from USD 11 (PKR 3,000) to just USD 3.5 (PKR 1,000).
According to a source close to the PHF, senior players had requested clarification on the exact amount they would receive during the camp period. The federation's announcement of a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and England, without naming a captain, has further fueled discontent.
Players Express Frustration
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one player stated: "They have announced we will get USD 110 daily allowance for foreign tours, including the World Cup qualifying event we played in Egypt. But we will only believe it once we are paid that amount." He added that PHF officials had made similar promises in the past but failed to deliver.
Another player voiced anger over the camp allowance reduction: "Right now we just want to know whether it is true they will pay us just 1,000 rupees (PKR) daily for the camp duration. This amount is an insult to national players."
Upcoming Fixtures and Squad Details
The third leg of the FIH Pro League will take place from June 13 to 27, with Pakistan scheduled to face Belgium, Spain, England, and arch-rivals India. Following the Pro League, Pakistan will participate in the FIH World Cup.
The Pakistan squad for the FIH Pro League includes:
- Goalkeepers: Waqar Ali, Ali Raza
- Defenders: Abu Bakar, Arbaz Ahmad, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufyan Khan
- Midfielders: Nadeem Khan, Ammad Shakeel, Moin Shakeel, Hammad Anjum, Zakriya Hayat
- Forwards: Gjazanfar Ali, Mohammad Emmad, Rana Waleed, Afraz Khan, Rana Wahid, Abdur Rahman, Ahmad Nadeem, Arshad Liaquat, Hanan Shahid
Shakeel Ammad Butt has been leading the team since early last year, but the captaincy remains unconfirmed for the upcoming matches.
