Pakistan Hockey Captain Faces Ammad Visa Setback Before England Matches
Pakistan hockey faces an Ammad visa setback ahead of its final FIH Pro League fixtures in England. The development means captain Ammad Shakil Butt will not travel with the squad. Officials continue preparations for matches scheduled from June 23 to 27.
England Tour Plans Change
Pakistan are currently competing in Belgium during the penultimate stage of the competition. The team has struggled for results and lost three of its first four games. However, players remain focused on the remaining fixtures. Sources said the captain’s travel application likely faced issues linked to an alleged overstay in England during 2022 and 2023. According to reports, his club expected an extension to be approved. The process did not finish in time, and his stay exceeded the permitted period. Reports also stated that he later submitted an asylum request. That request did not succeed. As a result, efforts by the Pakistan Hockey Federation failed to secure clearance for the England leg. Officials expect Ammad to return home soon. Pakistan will still face India and host nation England in important matches. Federation sources indicated that performance concerns currently outweigh selection issues. Nevertheless, they worry about the negative attention surrounding the case.
Coaching Situation Remains Unclear
Head coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior has also not received travel approval. Therefore, uncertainty remains around the team’s leadership structure. If the situation continues, Director High Performance Tahir Zaman could oversee coaching duties. Tahir has already arrived in Belgium to monitor performances. Earlier disagreements reportedly emerged between him and several players. Those tensions followed discussions about coaching appointments during a previous overseas tour. Sources also claimed Tahir later sought major squad changes. His appointment as Director High Performance reportedly drew criticism from Ammad. In addition, reports suggested the captain contacted federal ministers for support. However, those efforts produced no positive outcome.
