Xplorich
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s struggling hockey team has suffered another setback ahead of the final leg of the FIH Pro League in England, with regular captain Ammad Shakeel Butt set to miss the tour because of visa issues.According to a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official, Ammad’s visa application has been rejected, while head coach Manzur-ul-Hasan is still waiting for clearance. Pakistan are scheduled to leave for England, where they will play four matches against England and India from June 23.The development comes at a difficult time for Pakistan, who have lost all 11 matches in this season’s Pro League against Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. The team is now in danger of being relegated from the top tier of the competition.PHF officials said Ammad’s visa was denied because he had previously overstayed in England while playing club hockey. The overstay reportedly occurred due to a misunderstanding with the club he represented during a six-month spell in the country.There have also been reports that Ammad had once applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom. However, the PHF official said he could not independently verify those claims.With Ammad unavailable, senior player Abu Bakr is expected to captain the side during the England leg of the tournament.There is also uncertainty over the coaching setup. If Manzur-ul-Hasan does not receive his visa in time, former Pakistan international Tahir Zaman could take charge of the team for the matches in England.Pakistan’s poor performances in the Pro League have already drawn criticism from former players and fans. Questions have also been raised about the decision to appoint 74-year-old Manzur as coach and rely entirely on a local support staff, especially with the Hockey World Cup set to take place in August.The visa issues have now added another challenge for a team desperately searching for a turnaround before the World Cup.
