Lucknow Press
Lifetime ban on Pakistani Hockey Players: Pakistan Hockey Federation has taken a big action against three of its players and a physiotherapist and has imposed a lifetime ban on them. All four are accused of trying to flee without informing anyone and take refuge in a European country. PHF General Secretary Rana Mujahid confirmed this on Thursday.
According to the information, Pakistan Hockey Team players Murtaza Yaqoob, Ihtesham Aslam and Abdur Rahman along with physiotherapist Waqas have been banned for life. All four tried to seek asylum in Europe during the Nations Cup in Netherlands and Poland last month. After which this action has been taken against all of them.
PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid said, “When the team returned home after the Nations Cup and we announced the training camp for the Asian Champions Trophy, the trio informed us that they would not be able to join the camp due to domestic issues. We later learnt that they had fled to Holland once again on the same Schengen visa issued to the team and sought political asylum there.”
Mujahid described the episode as “disappointing” for Pakistan hockey. He stressed that the situation would complicate the process of applying for visas to European countries for international competitions in the future.
He said the lifetime ban has been approved by the PHF Congress and efforts are being made to deport the players. “We have already informed the interior and foreign ministries for further action,” he added.
However, the former Olympian admitted that the PHF’s financial situation was difficult and that the players faced delays in their travel allowances and daily subsistence payments, but these issues did not justify his actions. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges within Pakistan hockey and raises questions over the future of international participation for the team.
