Pakistan Government Lifts 'Illegal' Two-Year Ban on Hockey Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt

The Pakistan government has formally revoked a two-year ban imposed on national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, describing the disciplinary action as 'illegal and unconstitutional'. The decision, announced on Friday, 20 February, follows a week of administrative turmoil that has seen the resignation of the federation’s president and a public outcry over the treatment of players during a recent international tour.  PHF Chief Tariq Bugti Resigns Amidst Sydney Fiasco Fallout After Banning Pakistan Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt For Two Years.

Reversal of Disciplinary Action

The ban was originally issued on Thursday by the outgoing President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Tariq Bugti, shortly before he tendered his resignation. Bugti had accused Butt of 'bringing the sport into disrepute' after the captain publicly criticised the federation’s management of the team’s recent tour to Australia.

However, the newly appointed Ad-Hoc President of the PHF, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani—who also serves as the Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC)—immediately overturned the suspension upon taking office. Wani stated that the move lacked legal standing and emphasized that the federation’s priority must return to the players' welfare and upcoming international commitments.

The Australia Tour Fiasco

The controversy stems from Pakistan’s recent campaign in the FIH Pro League. While the team struggled on the pitch, losing all eight of their matches, the primary scandal emerged from their off-field conditions. Videos circulated on social media showed the squad stranded at Sydney airport for over 13 hours due to a lack of confirmed accommodation.

Upon returning to Pakistan, Butt and several senior teammates alleged they were forced to stay in substandard villas rather than the five-star hotels promised. The captain further claimed that players were made to "clean kitchens and wash dishes" and had not received their daily allowances for nearly a year, despite the government releasing funds to the PHF. Pakistan Hockey Team Stranded in Canberra Due to Unpaid Hotel Bills By PHF.

Administrative Shake-up

The scandal prompted immediate intervention from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federation’s patron-in-chief, who accepted Tariq Bugti’s resignation and ordered a high-level inquiry into the mismanagement of funds.

Under Wani’s interim leadership, the PHF has pledged to implement a "transparent and merit-based" system. A new training camp is scheduled to begin this weekend as the team shifts its focus to the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt, which are now just four months away. Wani urged the players to "focus solely on training," assuring them that the federation would handle all administrative and logistical matters moving forward.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 04:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).