Pakistan Hockey Federation Clears Outstanding Dues

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has addressed all outstanding payments, including daily allowances, for its players, officials, and employees. This action follows recent criticism regarding delays in disbursing these funds.

According to an official announcement, the PHF has fully settled all outstanding daily allowances for the senior, junior, and under-18 teams. The federation has also cleared the dues for its officials and staff members.

PHF President Mir Tariq Bugti verified that advance payments were processed for the junior squad members who will be participating in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia. This measure aims to ensure the athletes can concentrate on their game without being concerned about financial issues.

Mir Tariq Bugti stated, “We have handled all monetary matters as a top priority. By the grace of God, all players and officials have now received their payments.”

He further noted, “However, there could be a delay in transferring funds to those players who do not maintain accounts with Habib Bank Limited (HBL).”

It is worth noting that during the recent FIH Nations Cup, several players, including the team captain, expressed their concerns on social media and in news reports about the pending payments.

In response to these reports, the PHF acted swiftly to address the issue and clear all outstanding payments.

President Bugti conveyed his hope that the players will now display enhanced focus and passion in their upcoming international competitions.

Previously, the federation faced criticism for neglecting the issue of unpaid daily allowances while focusing on finalising arrangements with the government for the forthcoming FIH Pro Hockey League.

Each player was entitled to a daily international allowance of PKR 30,000, which amounts to approximately PKR 500,000 per tour.

However, players reported receiving only domestic allowances at a reduced rate of PKR 2,500 per day instead of the standard PKR 3,000.

The delay caused frustration among the players, who struggled to cover their household expenses.

Players mentioned, “It was challenging to manage our needs on domestic allowances alone. We remained committed to representing Pakistan, but we also had families to take care of.”

The prolonged financial uncertainty led some players to consider alternative opportunities, like overseas leagues and tournaments. They added, “What options did the players have? Life had to continue, and we had to seize any chance to play abroad.”

Acknowledging the players’ grievances, Bugti admitted that the federation had been experiencing serious financial challenges.

He clarified, “We informed the players before the Nations Cup that we were using our reserves to send the team. At that time, funds were unavailable. However, the international daily allowance of PKR 30,000 per day would be disbursed once finances improved.”

The resolution of outstanding payments offers significant relief to Pakistan’s hockey players, who had faced uncertainty about their future amid increasing financial difficulties within the sport.