PHF president resigns; captain Ammad Butt banned for two year

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Tariq Bugti resigned from his post on Thursday following a series of administrative issues during the team’s recent tour of Australia.

At a press conference in Lahore, Bugti said he had submitted his resignation to the prime minister and cited mismanagement by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) as a major factor behind his decision.

He said the PHF did not receive sufficient funds to properly manage the Australia tour, with hotel bookings delayed because PSB payments were not released on time, causing logistical challenges for the team.

“The prime minister had released Rs250 million for hockey, but the funds for the Pro League remained with the PSB, which failed to manage matters efficiently,” Bugti said. “We had to wait two months for hotel payments in Australia. This was unacceptable for a team representing Pakistan.”

Bugti said that he had requested a committee, including the prime minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, to investigate the mismanagement incident during the Australia tour.

The resignation also comes after Bugti imposed a two-year suspension on Ammad Shakeel Butt, ruling that the captain will be ineligible to participate in domestic or international hockey during this period.

The move comes after Butt levelled serious allegations of mismanagement and mental harassment during and following the team’s return from Australia tour.

Despite the controversies, Bugti highlighted the PHF’s progress over the last six years, including the federation’s return to the Pro League and an improvement in Pakistan’s world ranking from 18 to 13. He praised Field Marshal Asim Munir for promoting hockey and acknowledged the support of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.

The Australia tour had sparked criticism over planning and coordination, reigniting longstanding concerns about governance in Pakistan hockey.

Bugti’s resignation signals growing frustration among administrators over funding, infrastructure, and organizational challenges faced by the national team.