Pakistan’s national hockey team faced embarrassment in Canberra, Australia, after unpaid hotel bills forced players to wait on the streets ahead of the FIH Pro League matches. Managed later with limited rooms, the incident added pressure before a narrow loss to Australia.
Pakistan Hockey Team Left Waiting on Streets in Australia
New Delhi: The Pakistan national hockey team is currently touring Australia for the second leg of the FIH Pro League. Upon arriving in Canberra, the team faced a very uncomfortable situation. According to reports, the players and officials' bookings were canceled due to non-payment of hotel bills, forcing them to wait on the street for several hours.
According to sources, rooms were reserved for the players at a four-star hotel, but the Pakistan Hockey Federation failed to pay the bill. Consequently, the hotel management canceled the bookings. After a long wait and negotiations, some rooms were arranged, with two to three players sharing a single room. This incident has raised questions about the team management's preparations and financial situation.
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After enduring several hours of discomfort, the team was scheduled to play against Australia the next day. Pakistan lost 2-3 in this match, played amid fatigue and mental stress. Sports experts believe that the off-field problems have clearly affected the players' performance.
Reports also indicate that players did not receive their daily allowances on time during the previous tournament, further exacerbating financial hardship. It is feared that the players' morale may be affected due to the ongoing financial problems.
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This incident has come to light just before the upcoming matches in Hobart, which could impact the team's preparations. Currently, no official statement has been issued by the team management or the federation in Australia on this matter.
