Lahore — The Pakistan Hockey Federation and the Pakistan Sports Board are openly blaming each other for what went wrong during the national team’s trip to the second leg of the FIH Pro League in Hobart, Australia. The Green Shirts came home late Tuesday after losing every match — to Germany and the hosts — and finishing both legs without a single win.
Players and media reports have been talking about the same problems since they landed back: hotels booked late or not good enough, cramped rooms, no proper kitchen so the players had to cook for themselves, and the daily allowance of USD 40 falling short of what PHF rules say should be USD 100. It left the squad unhappy and, many say, not in the right frame of mind to play top-level hockey.
Substandard accommodation & poor food for Pakistan hockey team in #Australia
During the Pro League in Hobart, players faced low-cost rooms and long waits at the airport due to booking issues.
PM has taken notice. #SamaaTV #PakistanHockeyTeam #ProLeague pic.twitter.com/5AXzQYAt3j
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) February 18, 2026
Key Highlights
- PHF says PSB handled hotels, flights, TA/DA and visas per Senate committee directive.
- PSB insists team had enough funds, including USD 1,650 per player.
- PM Shehbaz takes notice and orders immediate inquiry.
- USD 3,750 accommodation payment from Argentina leg still pending.
- Sports Minister Rana Sanaullah calls situation unacceptable, vows action.
- Players reportedly planning press conference in Lahore soon.
PHF president Tariq Hussain Bugti told Dawn the whole logistical side — hotels, flights, daily money, visas — was the PSB’s job, following orders from the Senate sports committee. “We accepted that ruling and stayed out of it,” he said. “Our job is to make sure the team gets matches against the best sides in the world.”
A PSB official, Rana Nasrullah, shot back that the team management already had enough money, with each player carrying USD 1,650. “If funds were there, why did the hotel arrangements go wrong?” he asked. “And why no proper cooking system?”
Both sides say they welcome the prime minister’s decision to order an inquiry. Federal Sports Minister Rana Sanaullah sounded angry in his statement, saying the whole episode has hurt Pakistan’s name in hockey. “Such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he warned. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
There are also whispers that the hotel payments from the first leg in Argentina — USD 3,750 — are still pending. One PHF source, not wanting to be named, said the PSB handed over a Rs10 million cheque when the team arrived, but by then hotel rates had gone up, so bookings were limited and some ended up in a guest house with shared or substandard rooms.
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The prime minister’s office put out a short note: “The Prime Minister has taken notice of the mismanagement in hockey affairs reported in the media, and enquiries are being conducted. Immediate action will be taken against those found responsible.”
The inquiry started by Sanaullah doesn’t have named committee members yet. Some people watching from outside say that if it’s just PSB or ministry people doing the probe, it might not look fully independent — a neutral body would probably be better.
Right now, the players are back, the losses are fresh, and everyone is waiting to see what the inquiry actually uncovers. Fans and former players are hoping it leads to real fixes so the next tour doesn’t turn into the same story again.
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