Pakistan hockey team players celebrate after scoring during their emphatic 7-2 win over Malaysia in the Sultan of Johor Cup match held in Johor Bahru on Saturday. Photo: X
The Pakistan hockey team’s tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League has been overshadowed by a series of administrative failures that left national players without accommodation, meals or basic logistical support, raising fresh concerns over athlete welfare and governance within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
Pakistan were due to open their Pro League campaign against Australia on 10 February, but the tour ran into trouble even before departure.
The squad’s initial travel plan was cancelled after Australian immigration authorities rejected visa applications, citing incorrectly filled forms submitted by the PHF. After revised documentation and completion of biometric requirements, the team finally travelled on 5 February, flying to Australia via Thai Airways.
However, the difficulties did not end there.
On arrival in Sydney, the Pakistan hockey team faced a 12 to 13-hour layover before their connecting flight to Hobart. With night-time airport closures and a long wait ahead, players required overnight accommodation and meals.
According to officials, no hotel bookings or food arrangements had been made by the PHF.
Left with no alternative, one of the players contacted friends living in Sydney. These individuals arrived late at night, arranged food for the squad and briefly took them to a public area near Sydney Harbour before returning them to the airport in the early hours of the morning.
The team then continued their journey to Hobart, exhausted and underprepared, ahead of an international fixture.
On reaching Hobart, the situation worsened. The team waited for nearly three hours in the lobby of the DoubleTree by Hilton before being informed that their booking had been cancelled due to non-payment.
Hotel management reportedly told the team that any new reservation would only be possible at significantly higher rates. PHF officials later conveyed that no funds were available to confirm the booking.
As a result, players and support staff were left without accommodation in a foreign country. To ensure basic shelter and rest, the squad was forced to independently arrange low-cost Airbnb accommodation, relying on personal efforts rather than official support.
The incident has sparked outrage among former players and officials, who described the episode as deeply embarrassing for Pakistan’s national sport.
These were not tourists travelling for leisure. The Pakistan national hockey team, comprising around 20 players, was representing the country in one of world hockey’s elite competitions. Instead of professional logistical backing, they were left dependent on personal contacts and self-funded solutions.
Such scenes have raised serious questions about athlete welfare, administrative accountability and the PHF’s ability to manage international tours.
Beyond the physical fatigue, officials say the episode has had a demoralising impact on players, many of whom were experiencing Pro League competition under intense pressure against top-ranked sides such as Australia.
Critics argue that when athletes step onto the field wearing Pakistan’s colours, they carry the pride of the nation—and it is unacceptable that off the field they are left unsupported, unheard and unattended.
The episode has also damaged Pakistan’s image internationally, highlighting long-standing concerns over governance, funding and planning in the country’s hockey system.
