PHF interim chief vows to restore hockey’s glory, lifts ban on captain Ammad Butt

Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani has pledged to revive and strengthen Pakistan’s national game after assuming charge as ad-hoc president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

In a statement on Friday following his appointment, Wani outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at stabilising the federation, rebuilding trust and overhauling team management to restore Pakistan’s standing in international hockey.

“As the newly appointed ad-hoc president of PHF, I assure stakeholders of our commitment to revive and strengthen hockey in Pakistan,” he said, adding that immediate steps were being taken to address pressing organisational and administrative issues.

Wani said the short-term focus would be on stabilising the federation’s affairs, while a medium-term roadmap would include developing a clear strategic vision, strengthening coaching and training structures and improving coordination among relevant institutions.

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He stressed the need for better governance and more efficient resource management, adding that efforts would be made to forge partnerships with the private sector to provide stronger financial and structural support to players and the national setup.

“Our players should focus on training and matches, while we handle the rest,” he said, adding that athlete welfare and performance would remain central to the reform process.

Referring to upcoming international commitments, Wani said special directions had been issued to ensure seamless end-to-end coordination for the national team’s World Cup and qualifying matches in Cairo from February 27 to March 8.

“I had a detailed conversation with Ammad Butt, the team captain, and advised him to focus on training and upcoming matches,” Wani said. “Ambassador Amir Shaukat in Egypt and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are on board. Management issues have been sorted. Now it’s up to the team. Inshallah, we will make Pakistan proud.”

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“As president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, I have decided to prioritise spending on player training and development, as well as the establishment of allied sports facilities. To optimise resources, we are closing the regional PHF office in Islamabad established last year and diverting the saved funds towards player development,” Wani said, adding that the PSB would accommodate the PHF’s office needs if required.

Wani also announced that elections for new PHF leadership would be held to ensure a smooth and democratic transition.

In a key administrative decision, he lifted with immediate effect a two-year ban imposed on national team captain Ammad Butt, saying transparency and fairness would guide decisions under his tenure.

Wani thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his confidence and called on stakeholders to work collectively to revive the sport.

His appointment comes a day after former PHF president Tariq Bugti resigned following complaints from national team players after last week’s whitewash tour. The resignation followed the launch of a probe by the prime minister.

Earlier, Butt had criticised the federation, alleging it had failed to pay hotel expenses during the tour, forcing players to wash their clothes and dishes at what they described as substandard accommodation in Hobart, Tasmania.