Pakistan Hockey Players Banned for Life for Seeking Asylum
Three Pakistani hockey players and a physiotherapist have been banned for life after attempting to seek asylum in Europe. The players, Murtaza Yaqoob, Ihtesham Aslam, and Abdur Rahman, along with physiotherapist Waqas, disappeared during the Nations Cup in the Netherlands and Poland last month.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary-general Rana Mujahid confirmed the incident, stating that the players had informed the federation of their inability to attend a training camp due to domestic issues. However, it was later discovered that they had flown to the Netherlands again and sought political asylum.
Mujahid expressed disappointment over the incident, noting that it would make it difficult for the PHF to obtain visas for international competitions in European countries. The PHF Congress has approved the lifetime ban and has requested the PHF president to work with the Pakistan consulate to bring the players back for disciplinary action.
The PHF has also notified the interior and foreign ministries for further action. Mujahid acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the PHF, but emphasized that these issues did not justify abandoning the national team and damaging the country’s reputation.
The incident has raised concerns about the welfare of Pakistani athletes and the challenges they face in representing their country. The PHF is working to address these issues and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
