COLOMBO/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani has been appointed as the ad hoc President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) following the resignation of sitting President Tariq Bugti.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the PHF, has approved Bugti’s resignation as the President of PHF with immediate effect.
Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani is a sports enthusiast and has taken several concrete steps since becoming the IPC Secretary, advancing sports development and recognising athletes.
“The PM has entrusted him with the powers to streamline the affairs in hockey and hold free and fair elections of the PHF.”
Earlier, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had plunged into a crisis following the resignation of its President Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti and suspension of national men’s team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, who has been handed a two-year ban. Bugti confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, defending his two-year tenure by pointing to Pakistan’s improved world ranking. “Our world ranking was 18th, and now it stands at 13th. This is our accomplishment,” he said, while expressing gratitude to the government for allocating Rs250 million to support hockey. He also thanked Field Marshal Asim Munir for his backing.
However, Bugti contended that his administration struggled with persistent financial and logistical hurdles, particularly during the team’s recent FIH Pro League tour of Australia. Viral videos showed players living in cramped, substandard accommodation after hotel bookings were cancelled due to non-payment. The team endured a winless campaign, losing twice each to Australia (3-2, 3-0) and Germany (5-2, 6-1).
Bugti blamed the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for failing to release funds on time, claiming that officials told him it would take two months to process payments. He insisted that the mismanagement stemmed from the PSB, not the PHF, and called for a high-level inquiry into “privilege indiscipline” within the federation.
In a dramatic twist, Bugti also announced disciplinary action against Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, accusing him of contributing to the chaos during the tour. Butt has been banned from both domestic and international hockey for two years. The fallout has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reportedly ordered the removal of Bugti, General Secretary Rana Mujahid and the entire team management following a one-day inquiry conducted by the PSB. The inquiry committee, chaired by PSB CFO Hasnat Ahmed, concluded that the players had been misled and subjected to inadequate arrangements.
Captain Ammad Butt, upon returning from Australia, claimed that the prime minister had taken “very strict action” against the PHF leadership, stating that the management had failed to provide proper accommodation and food during the tour.As Pakistan prepares for crucial Pro League fixtures against Belgium, Spain, India, and England later this year, the federation faces a leadership vacuum and mounting pressure to restore credibility. Bugti, in his farewell remarks, remained optimistic: “The team will perform well in the upcoming qualifying round.”
Meanwhile, an official inquiry committee has recommended the immediate appointment of an administrator to seize control of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), citing a “recurring pattern” of financial mismanagement, administrative negligence and “reputational embarrassment” to the country.
The investigation, prompted by the team’s chaotic participation in the FIH Pro League in Hobart, Australia, earlier this month, concludes that the PHF is operating without legal incorporation and has consistently violated government protocols.
The report available with The News details a series of logistical failures during the Australia tour that resulted in significant losses to the public exchequer:
1) Visa Mismanagement: Despite receiving Rs1.825 million for processing, the PHF submitted “deficient” applications, forcing a travel delay that cost the government an additional Rs9.947 million in rescheduling fees.
2) Accommodation Collapse: Although the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) released a full advance of $49,280 for a stay at DoubleTree by Hilton, the PHF failed to transmit the funds in time.
3) Airbnb and Crowdfunding: Upon arrival on February 7, 2026, the team found their hotel booking invalid. Players were moved to overcrowded Airbnb rentals — with up to five players per room — while officials informally “begged” the local community for financial assistance despite having official funds.
4) A “Systemic” Pattern of Negligence: The committee noted that these were not isolated incidents. The report highlights Rs14.734 million in unadjusted government grants and a history of unpaid international hotel bills in Bangladesh and Malaysia that had to be cleared by the PSB to save the country’s reputation.
Additionally, the PHF was found to have submitted “questionable” documentation for a tour in Argentina, including proforma invoices issued a month before services were even rendered and bills written on hotel guest noting pads. The inquiry report also concluded that PHF had failed to register under the Companies Act, 2017, the committee declared the federation a “legally alien” entity. To restore order, the inquiry proposes: 1) Appointment of an Administrator: A 90 to 120 day transitional period to take over financial and administrative control. 2) Forensic Audit: A full investigation into the last three financial years. 3) Leadership Change: The appointment of “internationally respected” former Olympians, such as Hasan Sardar or Islahuddin Siddiqui, to oversee the restoration of professional standards. 4) Legal Action: Initiating proceedings against the PHF President, Secretary General and Treasurer to determine personal liability for financial losses.
The committee emphasized that “mere advisory directions” would no longer suffice to rectify the “systemic governance weakness” plaguing the national sport.
