Pakistan’s national hockey players have reportedly stated that their financial situation has barely improved despite the team’s high-profile return to the FIH Pro League, with several squad members claiming they are still unpaid and in debt.
Players have reportedly not received daily allowances from the Pro League campaign, nor have their dues from the November tour of Bangladesh been cleared. Some have even been forced to borrow money to manage basic expenses while representing the country at the highest level.
While on-field performances in the Pro League, including recent defeats in Santiago, Argentina, against the hosts and Olympic champions Netherlands, have drawn heavy criticism from media, fans, and former players, those inside the camp say the off-field situation is just as troubling.
They point out that Pakistan’s national sport, once a four-time world champion and three-time Olympic champion, is now struggling not only for results but for basic professional standards.
Amid the financial uncertainty, the national setup has also been hit by a controversy involving the team manager and former Olympian Anjum Saeed.
According to reports circulating in hockey circles, Anjum Saeed was allegedly offloaded from a flight for smoking a cigarette on board. The incident has not yet been publicly addressed through an official statement by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
There are also indications from within hockey circles that the PHF may drop him as manager for Pakistan’s upcoming Pro League fixtures in Hobart, Australia, scheduled for February 2026 against Australia and world champions Germany.