One-year bans likely for ‘rebel’ hockey players

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

Former stars including Shakeel Abbas, Rehan Butt , Imran Warsi and Zeeshan Ashraf could be out of Pakistan's Olympic squad. – File photo by AFP

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) indicated, on Thursday, that it may hand one-year bans to the eight players involved in World Series Hockey (WSH).

PHF has said that all the players who signed the board’s contract after March 31, 2012 could be given a one-year ban for opting for the rebel league, DawnNews reported.

Senior members of the Pakistan hockey team, including Rehan Butt, Zeeshan Ashraf and Shakeel Abbasi, among others, participated in the Indian rebel league, which was not approved by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

In a move to show its displeasure with their participation, PHF issued show-cause notices to the eight players last month to appear before a disciplinary committee.

In last week’s hearing, the players defended their move to join the league, saying that the PHF did not give any clear instructions to the players.

Apart from Abbasi, Ashraf and Butt, former captain Imran Warsi, Waseem Ahmed, Tariq Aziz, Adnan Maqsood and Mudassar Ali Khan also participated in WSH, which was played between March and April.

The disciplinary committee will submit its report to the federation next week.

If, indeed, the bans are imposed, the players could miss out on an Olympic berth.

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Rohin Angral (Delhi)

May 18, 2012 10:47am

Pakistan Hockey team is one of the best team in the world, please do not ruin ur chances by getting into these bans and all. These players who travelled India for the tournament were awesome and lets be fair to them, everyone in the world has all the right to make some money and its well deserved and well earned money. Its not like cricket that you are paid all the money esp in India. Gd luck to Team Pakistan and India. I will be happy if anyone of these teams win some medal...I do know pakistan has a better chance but we are also catching up. All the best.

Recommend 0

Fair-allah

May 18, 2012 05:14pm

I believe, the people of pakistan alway talk negative. This is very good disciple action word by phf. If pak player doing against the national interest, they must ban. They disobey the phf and nation. How they obey game. And if such player caught in mulpracting or matchfixing, people say,shame on phf, doing nothing. So, discipline in sport is everything. And i never saw a undiscipline and un-unite team win a medal or championship. Pakistan has good chance in olympic now.

Recommend 0

Junaid

May 17, 2012 05:12pm

This is an un-necessary discplin. Unfortunately most executives in our country have no sense of management. You will find them on two extremes, either too strict to let the person grow in his profession or so soft that people will fixing the match and they will have no idea of what's going on. If players have an opportunity to raise their income on their own, why would PHF have any problem with it. Infact PHF should support them, because they (PHF) is unable to match the salaries with other players in the world. As far as lawfulness is concerned, WSH is not disapproved by IHF eventhough it is not approved, for that reason other countries ( e.g. Australia, Newzeland, Spain) did not impose any ban on their players. My request to PHF is to be nice to your players , treat them like your beloved children. Look how internation coaches and managements die to save each and very gem of their team. These are national gems, dont throw them in the garbage, because PHF will go into garbage with them. God bless you.

Recommend 0

Ali Khan (MI-USA)

May 17, 2012 06:29pm

This makes no sense from PHF's part to put a ban on senior players especially before the mega event like Olympics. I understand that these senior players made a mistake, but PHF can impose a ban after Olympics are over in order to have some hope for Pakistan to clinch gold medal. At this point of time, PHF should think about Pakistan's reputation and it's sport's status in-front of the world rather disciplining these senior players before the mega event. I hope somebody will give them some brain so that they can hold on to their discipline decision till August.

Recommend 0

ikram

May 18, 2012 12:36pm

PHF needs to be eliminated. Pakistan hockey team should become a private entity.

Recommend 0

Cedric

May 17, 2012 08:16pm

PHF must show the world that Pakistan Hockey team is one of the best in the world, how can the team excel if PHF tries to discipline players on whom the team depends now as the Team prepares for the Olympics scheduled for July 2012. We need a united strong team not a depleted one.

Recommend 0

Asghar Khan

May 17, 2012 09:42pm

I hope PHF have the brains and guts to allow these players without giving in to FIH . In all honesty no European Hockey Federation or for that matter Australia , New Zealand would ensure they have the strongest and experienced sides out to participate in the Olympics . The president of the FIH is Spainish and when South Africa had to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament , he immediately made sure Spain were allocated that vacant berth .He did what was in the best interest for his country , rightly so . PHF should take a stand and equally put out the best side for the Olympics , because if you do not look out for yourself ,no one else will.

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