Pakistan Hockey Federation President Resignation 2026: Crisis & New Leadership
The national game of Pakistan has hit a turbulent milestone with the Pakistan Hockey Federation president resignation 2026. On Thursday, February 19, Tariq Hussain Bugti stepped down from his post following a disastrous tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League. The resignation comes amid serious allegations of financial mismanagement and logistical failures that left national athletes in humiliating conditions abroad.
The Australia Fiasco and Resignation
The catalyst for the Pakistan Hockey Federation president resignation 2026 was the team’s recent trip to Hobart. Reports emerged that players were forced to cook their own meals and wash their own dishes because the federation failed to secure proper hotel funding. Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt went public with these grievances, describing the treatment of the players as “mental harassment.”
In his farewell press conference, Bugti blamed the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for the crisis. He claimed that despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif releasing Rs250 million, the funds were not managed correctly by the board. Conversely, an inquiry committee held the PHF responsible for administrative lapses and visa delays that cost the national exchequer over Rs36 million in revised airfares.
New Leadership: Mohiyuddin Ahmed Wani Takes Charge
Following the departure of Bugti and Secretary Rana Mujahid, the Prime Minister has appointed Mohiyuddin Ahmed Wani, the Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), as the ad-hoc president of the PHF.
Wani has hit the ground running with several key decisions:
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Lifting the Ban: He immediately overturned the two-year ban previously imposed on Captain Ammad Butt by the outgoing management.
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Governance Reform: Wani pledged to prepare a “business plan” within six weeks to run the federation on professional grounds.
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Grassroots Focus: A new working group will be formed to coordinate with education bodies for talent development.
Mohsin Naqvi Steps in as a Lifeline
While the PHF was in shambles, Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the distressed players. Naqvi distributed cheques of Rs1 million each to the team members as a reward for their recent international performances. He assured the players that the “turmoil” would end and that the PCB would assist with kits, medical treatment, and international coaches—including the potential return of Roelant Oltmans.
With a training camp starting this Friday in Lahore, the focus is now shifting toward the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt. The new ad-hoc setup faces a steep mountain to climb to restore the “lost glory” of Pakistan hockey, but the immediate removal of administrative hurdles has provided a glimmer of hope for the athletes.
