Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt spoke to reporters at Lahore airport and said the players were misled by the federation and treated unfairly throughout the trip. He claimed the management made false promises and ignored players’ concerns.

According to Butt, members of the Pakistan hockey team were forced to live in humiliating conditions. Players allegedly had to clean kitchens, wash dishes, scrub washrooms, and do laundry every morning before training. He questioned how athletes could perform after doing household work instead of resting and preparing.

The captain further said the Pakistan hockey team was warned not to speak to the media and threatened with bans. He rejected the federation’s code of conduct and said he felt no pressure to stay silent. Butt also dismissed statements by head coach Tahir Zaman, calling them misleading.

Butt revealed that officials tried to divide the Pakistan hockey team by asking players individually whether they supported the federation or their captain. He insisted the entire squad stood united with him and demanded an immediate inquiry into the tour’s handling. He also stressed the need for a foreign coach to rebuild the side.

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Support for the players came from Noorish Sabah, Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board. She confirmed that hotel bookings arranged by the PSB were later cancelled by the PHF, affecting food and accommodation. She said poor arrangements directly hurt performance.

Sabah added that a detailed inquiry report would be sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has already taken notice of the issue.