LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has imposed lifetime bans on three hockey players and a physio for leaving the country without notifying the federation, following their failure to attend the national training camp in Islamabad for the Asian Champions Trophy.
During an emergency press conference on Wednesday, PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid announced that players Murtaza Yaqoob, Ihtesham Aslam, and Abdur Rahman, along with physio Waqas, had been part of the national team that participated in the Nations’ Cup tour to Holland and Poland last month.
“After returning from Europe, they informed us they could not attend the training camp due to domestic issues,” Mujahid said. “However, credible information has now revealed that they left the country and have reportedly applied for asylum abroad.”
The PHF Congress has unanimously approved the lifetime bans and will notify the interior ministry to pursue legal action in accordance with regulations. Mujahid emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated in the future.
Addressing questions about the federation’s financial challenges, Mujahid admitted there had been delays in travel allowances and daily subsistence payments. However, he stressed that these issues did not justify abandoning the national team and tarnishing the country’s reputation.
