Ammad Shakil Butt to Miss England Leg
Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Shakil Butt has been denied a United Kingdom visa ahead of the final leg of the FIH Pro League.
As a result, the national captain will not travel with the team to England for Pakistan’s remaining matches.
Pakistan is scheduled to play four matches from June 23 to June 27. The team will face arch-rivals India and hosts England during the England leg of the tournament.
The visa refusal has created a major setback for Pakistan before a crucial stage of the competition.
Reports also said that head coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior has not yet received his visa. This has added more uncertainty to Pakistan’s preparations.
Visa Refusal Linked to Past Overstay Reports
According to reports, Ammad’s visa rejection is believed to be linked to an alleged overstay in England during 2022-23.
His club in England had reportedly assured him that his visa would be extended. However, the process was not completed on time.
As a result, his stay allegedly exceeded the legal six-month limit.
Reports also claimed that Ammad later applied for asylum in the UK, but the application was unsuccessful.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation made efforts to secure clearance for the captain. However, the visa was not granted.
Ammad is now expected to return home within the next few days.
Coaching Uncertainty Adds Pressure
Pakistan is currently in Belgium for the penultimate stage of the FIH Pro League. The team is playing matches against Belgium and Spain.
So far, Pakistan has lost three of its first four matches in the tournament.
If Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior also fails to receive his visa, PHF Director High Performance Tahir Zaman is expected to lead coaching duties in England.
Tahir has already travelled to Belgium to observe Pakistan’s ongoing Pro League matches.
The situation comes at a difficult time for Pakistan hockey. Reports suggest internal tensions within the setup have also affected team stability.
Sources said the federation is concerned about the negative image created by the visa refusal.
The development has raised fresh questions about team management, travel planning, and Pakistan’s preparations for major international hockey events.
