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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated on Thursday that he will continue supporting the national men’s hockey team players throughout the current turmoil.
Naqvi’s remarks came following his meeting with Pakistan hockey players amid the accommodation row they faced during the Pro League leg in Australia.
“We will accommodate hockey players in every possible way. We will extend complete cooperation to streamline hockey affairs,” Naqvi stated.
“You should focus only on the game. Pakistan’s honour comes first. We will not allow the country’s dignity to be compromised under any circumstances,” Naqvi told Hockey players.
He also clarified that he is not becoming the next president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
“I am not becoming Hockey Federation President, but we will assist players till this turmoil ends,” Naqvi wrote on X.
The PCB chairman clarified after Tariq Bugti sent his resignation to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Earlier in the day, Tariq Bugti stepped down as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), with captain Ammad Shakeel Butt handed a two-year ban by the federation.
Bugti submitted his resignation to Shehbaz Sharif and defended his performance in a farewell statement, highlighting improvements in Pakistan’s global standing.
The resignation comes amid fallout from viral videos during the FIH Pro League leg in Australia, which showed Pakistan players living in substandard accommodation due to logistical and financial complications.
Initial hotel bookings were reportedly cancelled over non-payment, forcing team management to arrange alternative lodging with the help of the local community, often with four to five players sharing a single room and bookings falling short of covering the full stay.
On the field, Pakistan endured a disappointing campaign, remaining winless in Australia with defeats against Australia (3-2, 3-0) and Germany (5-2, 6-1).
Looking ahead, Pakistan are scheduled to continue their FIH Pro League campaign with matches against Belgium on June 13 and 20, Spain on June 14, followed by high-profile clashes with arch-rivals India on June 23 and 26, and England on June 24 and 27.
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