Cash Crunch Threatens Pakistan Hockey Team's FIH Pro League Participation
The Pakistan hockey team's participation in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League is uncertain due to financial issues, needing 700 million rupees from Pakistan Sports Board.
The Pakistan hockey team's participation in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League is in jeopardy due to a financial crisis, potentially derailing the three-time Olympic champions' anticipated comeback on the international stage.
The Pakistan men's hockey team, which has won the World Cup four times, has been invited to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 after New Zealand, who had earned direct qualification by winning the 2024-25 Nations Cup, decided not to participate in the upcoming season.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH), the game's governing body, formally extended the invitation to Pakistan on Wednesday and gave them a deadline until August 12 to confirm their participation.
Pakistan, which has failed to qualify for the last three Olympics and the World Cup, has been given an opportunity by the FIH to compete against top-tier teams Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands, and Spain in the competition that will be held from December 2025 to June 2026.
However, the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) lacks the funds to send the team to the Pro League. The PHF has requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to release 700 million rupees (around USD 2.5 million) for the entire campaign.
In its recent annual meeting, the state-run PSB made it clear that it doesn't have the funds to ensure Pakistan's participation in the Pro League. The PSB has directed the PHF to submit detailed accounts of the funds allocated to them since last year and has refused to release more funds to the national federation to cover daily and travel allowances of players and officials who attended the recent FIH Nations Cup.
Pakistan lost in the final of the FIH Nations Cup to New Zealand, who automatically qualified for the Pro League. However, New Zealand has informed the FIH that they wouldn't be sending their team, giving second-best Pakistan a chance to compete against the top-tier teams.
An official in the PSB stated that the PSB would send a summary to the Prime Minister for the allocation of special funds to allow the PHF to send the team to the Pro League. However, due to the PHF's failure to update the PSB on how they spent funds released to them since last year, the Prime Minister, who is the patron-in-chief of the PHF, might opt for a change in the top leadership of the federation before approving special funds of 700 million rupees.
Rasheedul Hassan, an Olympic gold medallist who has launched a campaign against the PHF, said that unfortunately, the officials managing the federation's affairs for the past years had failed to maintain a clean image.
When the inaugural Pro League was held, the PHF initially confirmed participation but later backed out citing lack of funds, resulting in a fine of 170,000 euros to the FIH.
For the record, Pakistan is the most successful national team in Asian Games history, with eight gold medals (1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, and 2010), the highest number of times a country has become Asian Champion. Pakistan is also the only Asian team to have won the prestigious Champions Trophy thrice (1978, 1980, and 1994).
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
Toronto Masters: Khachanov Battles Past Zverev To Set Up Shelton Summit Clash
Last Updated: Karen Khachanov registered a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Alexander Zverev, while American Ben Shelton beat compatriot Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to punch his ticket to the final. Karen Khachanov moved into the final of the ATP Toronto Masters following his semifinal triumph over German top seed Alexander Zverev, while Ben Shelton got the better of Taylor Fritz in the other final-four encounter. Khachanov registered a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Zverev, while American Shelton beat compatriot Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets to punch his ticket to the final. Russian Khachanov had lost in two previous semi-finals in Canada. However, he persevered to advance, saving a match point to level the deciding set at 6-6, as world number three Zverev hit a backhand into the top tape of the net. The German made 44 unforced errors in the nearly three-hour defeat, while Khachanov recorded 29 winners and 34 unforced errors. 'I had to work hard, dig deep and do my best," Khachanov said. 'It was very demanding physically and mentally." 'We've had many matches, and I'm pleased to beat him after losing some easier ones," added Khachanov, who lost to Zverev in the Tokyo Olympic singles final. 'Today was tough – I was down match point." 'I'm just happy things went my way in the end." Khachanov noted it got tense towards the finish, stating, 'When you reach the final tiebreak, you have to play your best. You can't waste time and energy on negative thoughts, or you won't succeed. You never know what will happen, but you have to try." Khachanov will be playing his first final of the season after semi-final defeats in Barcelona and Halle. Shelton and Fritz had to wait briefly when a problem with the electronic line-calling system arose as they took the court. However, that did not affect 22-year-old Shelton, the world number seven, who had beaten Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals. With the win over Fritz, he secured his first back-to-back victories over top 10 opponents. US Open finalist Fritz had to save four break points in the third game of the match and was broken in the ninth game, allowing Shelton to serve for the set. Shelton seized a second break for a 3-2 lead in the second set, landing a perfect lob over Fritz's head and holding at love for a 5-3 lead. He closed out the match with another break, while Fritz broke his racquet over his knee after double-faulting on match point. 'I'm happy with my level and how I executed," Shelton said. 'I've seen so many big improvements in my game this week. That's what I'm most pleased about, how I'm executing, how little I'm hesitating, and how I'm returning. Beating two top 10 guys back-to-back is huge for me," the American added. 'I felt I had the ball on a string," he added. 'I'm excited to play like this, hitting the ball and expecting it to go in," he concluded. First Published: August 07, 2025, 10:50 IST News sports Toronto Masters: Khachanov Battles Past Zverev To Set Up Shelton Summit Clash Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
33 minutes ago
- First Post
Dada returns! Sourav Ganguly set to re-enter administration, to file nomination for CAB presidency
Sourav Ganguly could soon replace his elder brother Snehasish Ganguly as the Cricket Association of Bengal president as the former India captain is reportedly planning to return to administration. read more Nearly three years after he stepped down as BCCI chief, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is set to re-enter administration as he will in all likelihood file nomination for the president's post in the upcoming Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections. The 52-year-old Ganguly was the CAB president till 2019, having started his journey as the secretary of the state unit under late Jagmohan Dalmiya back in 2014. In 2019, he was unanimously elected as the president of the BCCI with Jay Shah as the secretary, but after completion of one term, Ganguly had to make way for 1983 World Cup hero Roger Binny. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Yes, Sourav is very keen to come back to administration. He has made up his mind to file nomination for the CAB president's post. If one goes by BCCI constitution, he will have five years (total nine years in state) left. Whether he will be a unanimous choice or there will be an election is still not clear at this stage,' a senior CAB official, privy to the developments in state unit, told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Incidentally, the current CAB president is Snehasish, who is Ganguly's older brother. He is set to complete six years after which he needs to go for a mandatory cooling off period as per the requirements of the Lodha Committee-recommended constitution. It has been learnt that Ganguly, over the past few months, has been regularly connecting with the member units and a lot of people within the organization believe that someone of his stature needs to come back into the administration. 'Sourav was a very successful CAB president. The Vision2020 is such a big hit and we got some wonderful cricketers from that project. Hopefully, all stakeholders in the CAB will come together and ensure that we are on same page with a collective vision of taking our state's cricket forward.'
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Lok Sabha to take up Manipur GST ordinance, Anti-Doping law amendments
Synopsis According to a list of business issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is scheduled to move amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, for consideration and passage in the House. ANI Lok Sabha to take up Manipur GST ordinance, Anti-Doping law amendments The Lok Sabha on Thursday will begin its proceedings with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present an explanatory statement, placing reasons for "immediate legislation by promulgation" of the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, to a list of business issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is scheduled to move amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, for consideration and passage in the House. The Union Sports Minister will also move the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, in the lower house of the National Sports Governance Bill aims to "provide for the development and promotion of sports, welfare measures for sportspersons, ethical practices based on basic universal principles of good governance, ethics and fair play of the Olympic and sports movement, the Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter, international best practices and established legal standards and to provide for the resolution of sports grievances and sports disputes in a unified, equitable and effective manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration." Union Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will move the Indian Ports Bill of 2025, which aims to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of India's coastline. The bill aims to "establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports.""Ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes; and address matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration," the list of business various reports of committee on the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes will be presented in the lower house, where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Faggan Singh Kulaste will present fourth report on the subject "Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the services and in the allotment of commercial and residential accommodation of Delhi Development Authority (DDA)."Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Daggumalla Prasada Rao will present the fifth report on the subject "Role of autonomous bodies/educational Institutions like Central Universities, Engineering Colleges, IIMs, IITs, Medical Institutes in socio-economic development and implementation of reservation policy for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with specific reference to University of Delhi."BJP MPs Radha Mohan Singh and Virendra Singh will present the reports of the standing committee on defence, highlighting the action taken by the government on the recommendations in the previous reports on demands for grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year on Wednesday, the Parliament passed two key maritime bills in a single day, a first for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the second one is the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, leading the way for a modern, efficient and globally aligned maritime policy framework in Lok Sabha cleared the 'Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024', aimed at streamlining maritime governance with a modern and internationally compliant approach.
