The Pakistan national hockey team has decided to continue their training boycott after negotiations with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) failed to resolve outstanding issues. The core problem remains delayed payments to national players, which have yet to be cleared.
PHF’s Attempt to Resolve the Crisis
PHF officials held discussions with the players in an attempt to persuade them to resume training. PHF President Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti personally attended the meeting and assured the team that all pending dues would be paid by the following Friday.
Despite these assurances, players maintained their stance and refused to participate in training until full payments were made. Sources confirmed that the negotiations yielded no breakthrough, leaving the training boycott intact.
Players’ Firm Stance
The players have stated that they will remain present at the camp but will abstain from training activities until their financial claims are fully addressed. They emphasized that resuming practice is contingent on clearing all outstanding dues.
This deadlock highlights growing tensions between the national team and the PHF, raising concerns about the future preparation of Pakistan’s hockey squad for international competitions.
Implications for Pakistan Hockey
The ongoing boycott disrupts the training schedule and threatens the team’s readiness for upcoming tournaments. Officials have urged both sides to reach a resolution swiftly to safeguard the performance and morale of the national squad.
Players’ insistence on full payments underscores the financial struggles faced by athletes despite their contributions to Pakistan’s international hockey success.
Call for Immediate Resolution
Hockey stakeholders have called for urgent intervention to ensure that players receive their dues and training schedules resume without further delay. Failure to resolve the payment dispute could impact Pakistan’s competitiveness on the international stage.
The situation continues to evolve as PHF and players remain in a standoff, with fans and analysts closely monitoring developments.
