Pakistani players washed dirty utensils before the match, players wandered on the streets without hotel; captain’s spilled pain

Pakistan The hockey team’s recent tour to Australia has come into the limelight due to mismanagement and controversies more than the game itself. As soon as the team captain Shakeel Ammad Butt returned to Pakistan, he launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), claiming that the players even had to clean the kitchen and wash utensils before the match.

Speaking to the media at Lahore airport, Butt expressed his displeasure and said, “When players have to clean the kitchen and even wash utensils before the match, what kind of result would you expect?” He said in clear words that it is not possible to work further with the current management.

Why did we have to wait so long at the airport?

During the Australia tour, the team had to face chaos at many levels. Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) confirmed that an amount of more than 1 crore Pakistani rupees was released for the team’s hotel arrangements. Despite this, the players had to wait for 13-14 hours at Sydney Airport. This long delay also affected the preparations of the players and the team appeared to be under mental pressure as well.

Why did the players wander on the streets?

The most surprising situation came to light when when the players reached the hotel before the FIH Pro League matches, they came to know that their booking had not been done because the payment had not been made earlier. The team had to wait on the road for several hours, after which arrangements for accommodation could be made. The very next day the team had to play a match against Australia, in which Pakistan lost 2-3. On this tour, Pakistan had to face defeat against both hosts Australia and Germany.

What did the captain say?

Captain Butt revealed that the Airbnb accommodation for the team was booked for only 10 days, while the team was supposed to stay for a total of 13 days. There was no clear arrangement for additional days, due to which the players had to shift to cheaper accommodation later. He also alleged that the players were warned not to talk to the media. Butt said he was speaking out because the conditions he faced in Australia were unacceptable.