Pakistan hockey team protests Rs 400 daily allowance

Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan hockey team has raised objections over the Pakistan Sports Board’s (PSB) offer of a daily allowance of just Rs400, protesting what they called an inadequate wage.

Initially, the team rejected the PSB’s invitation to a luncheon scheduled for today (Wednesday), where players were offered Rs400 per day as pocket money along with a Rs5,600 cheque for each player.

The allowance was intended to cover their expenses for attending the event. Team captain Imad Shakeel Butt strongly declined the offer, stating, “This amount isn’t even enough to cover toll expenses.” His firm response highlighted the players’ frustration over the minimal financial recognition. However, after persuasion from Pakistan hockey team coach Tahir Zaman, Imad Butt eventually agreed to attend the luncheon in Islamabad.

Six players from the national hockey team have been invited, including Sufyan Khan, Rana Waheed, Abdullah Muneebur Rehman, and Hanan Shahid. Athletes from other sports have also been invited, such as Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem and weightlifter Nooh Dastgir Butt. The incident has drawn attention to the long-standing issue of insufficient support and financial compensation for Pakistani athletes, particularly in hockey, once the country’s most celebrated sport.

That context makes the PSB’s gesture seem well-intentioned on the surface — but Ammad Butt’s refusal underlines a disconnect between token appreciation and meaningful support. With the national hockey team beginning to show signs of life after years in the wilderness, Ammad Butt’s stance sends a strong message to the authorities: symbolic gestures are not enough. If Pakistan hockey is truly to be revived, its athletes will need more than just medals and mentions — they’ll need respect, both on and off the field.