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Pakistan Hockey Team Stranded: Hotel Bills Unpaid
14 Feb
Summary
- Pakistan hockey team players were stranded for hours in Australia due to unpaid hotel bills.
- Former captains called the incident 'shameful' and demanded an inquiry.
- Visa delays and poor management plagued the team's tour.
The Pakistan national hockey team endured a "shameful" experience in Canberra, Australia, as players were left stranded for several hours. Their hotel bookings were cancelled because the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) could not pay the bills due to financial constraints.
Former captains Hassan Sardar and Samiullah condemned the incident, calling for a government inquiry into the PHF's handling of the team's affairs. Samiullah specifically appealed to the Prime Minister, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PHF, to address the issues plaguing hockey.
Reports indicate the tour had been a nightmare from the outset, with initial visa delays attributed to incomplete application forms submitted by PHF officials. Sources suggest the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was responsible for direct hotel payments and travel arrangements, but failed to disburse funds.
This incident echoes a similar situation last year when the Pakistan team's participation in the Azlan Shah event was jeopardized until an outstanding hotel bill of approximately USD 10,000 was settled by the PHF.
