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Pakistan’s hockey team management found itself under scrutiny after the side was penalised for fielding six players instead of the permitted five during its five-a-side international match against India in Muscat, Oman.The incident took place on Friday shortly after the match began, when the umpires noticed Pakistan had six players on the field. Under the rules of the five-a-side format, only five players are allowed.The umpires immediately penalised Pakistan by sending off two players, reducing the team to just three players on the field. India made full use of the numerical advantage and defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 7-3.Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) interim president was unhappy after learning about the incident and has sought an explanation from the team management, which includes chief coach Tahir Zaman and coaches Rehan Butt, Qamar Ibrahim and Umar Bhutta, PTI reported.

The management has told the federation that the confusion happened because some players did not understand the communication from the coaching staff, the PTI report said.It is not the first time Pakistan has faced such an issue in an international tournament.During the 2022 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in Jakarta, Pakistan committed a similar mistake in a qualification match against Japan. Their late equaliser was disallowed after umpires found Pakistan had 12 players instead of the permitted 11 on the field.That result denied Pakistan qualification for the 2023 Hockey World Cup, and then head coach Khawaja Junaid was handed a life ban by the Pakistan Hockey Federation.The ban was later lifted, and Junaid is now back as part of the senior team management.