PHF under scrutiny as PSB demands answers on key issues

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) finds itself at the centre of a deepening financial controversy, with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) stepping in to demand urgent clarifications over unpaid daily allowances to national players, questionable foreign tours, and the mysterious establishment of an unapproved camp office in Islamabad.

According to exclusive documents made available to The News, the PSB has issued a strongly worded explanation letter to PHF President Tariq Bugti, raising serious concerns over the federation’s opaque financial dealings and alleged persistent non-compliance with government directives.

The letter points out that despite receiving generous financial backing from the government, especially since the appointment of Bugti, the PHF failed to disburse players’ daily allowances well in time, particularly before the team’s departure for the Nations Cup in Malaysia.

“The PSB has extended substantial funding to the PHF over the last year, yet the players remain unpaid. This raises serious questions about the financial stewardship of the federation,” the letter states.

Officials within the PSB are reportedly frustrated over repeated failures of the PHF to provide mandatory financial records. “The federation’s continued non-compliance has been communicated to both the President and the Secretary General on several occasions, both verbally and in writing. Still, the required documentation remains pending,” the communication adds.

In a move signaling tightening oversight, the PSB has now formally directed the PHF to immediately furnish certified bank statements for the last six months, covering all operational and grant-utilization accounts.

The controversy doesn’t end there. The PSB has also questioned the legality of establishing a PHF camp office in Islamabad. The letter demands clarity on whether the camp office was approved by the Executive Board, or if it was set up unilaterally, bypassing official protocols.

Moreover, the PSB has put under scrutiny the foreign tours undertaken by PHF’s top brass, including the President and Secretary General, asking for details and justifications for these international visits particularly in a period of apparent financial strain.

Sources say the PSB’s latest move is part of a broader crackdown on mismanagement and unchecked spending in national sports federations, especially those heavily dependent on public funds.

The points raised by the PSB in a letter addressed to the President PHF include:

1. It is clarified that the payment of TA/DA to players and team officials, particularly on self-approved rates determined by PHF itself, is solely the responsibility of PHF. PSB bears no liability in this regard.

2. If PHF is facing financial constraints in making such payments, it must first submit the following documents for review:

i. Certified bank statements of all operational and grant-utilization accounts for the last six months;

ii. Complete record of foreign tours undertaken by the President and Secretary of PHF during the last six months, including purpose, destinations, dates, costs, and source of funding;

iii. Detailed cost incurred on establishing PHF’s new office in Islamabad, along with evidence of approval from the Executive Board of PHF.