A storm is brewing in Pakistan hockey. National team players have threatened to rebel against the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) over non-payment of daily allowances, with captain Ammad Butt emerging as the voice of frustration in a leaked audio message now doing the rounds in the media.
My fight is for the players. Whether I play or not, I will reveal everything. The water has gone over our heads. Federation officials have no shame. They enjoy fat salaries while players are struggling to survive.
Butt declares in the message, which was originally shared in a private team group.
The PHF, led by president Tariq Bugti and secretary Olympian Rana Mujahid, is under fire for failing to pay players their dues from two domestic training camps and last month’s Nations Cup in Malaysia.
Currently, players receive just PKR 3,000 ($10) per day for training camps, and PKR 35,000 ($117) during international tournaments — meagre sums by international standards. Worse still, these payments are reportedly delayed or entirely withheld.
Butt's voice message struck a chord across the hockey fraternity. “We’re putting in the effort for our country, but the treatment we receive is disheartening. What was committed to us hasn’t been delivered,” he said.
Another senior player, speaking anonymously, warned of growing unrest. “You can't train or play a tournament with empty pockets. We’re not asking for bonuses — we just want what we’re owed. This could spark a rebellion, just like it did in 2023.”
In response, PHF secretary Mujahid denied the existence of a player rebellion.
It is unethical to use private conversation in media. We admit that players have not been paid, but we are doing our best to clear their dues as soon as possible.
Mujahid told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net.)
The leaked audio has outraged fans and former players alike, many of whom are now demanding the immediate removal of both Bugti and Mujahid. According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — who also serves as the federation’s patron — is said to have taken notice of the crisis and is considering appointing new leadership.
The controversy comes at a crucial time. Pakistan’s team is scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup in India next month, a qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup to be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. However, with diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi running high, government sources indicate Pakistan may not receive clearance to travel.
Missing the Asia Cup would mean Pakistan fails to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time — a staggering blow to a nation once considered the global powerhouse of the sport. With three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles, Pakistan still holds the record for the most world titles in men’s hockey.
But as the game’s legacy founders under financial mismanagement and political interference, Pakistan’s hockey heroes are left to fight not just for glory — but for their very livelihoods.