Pakistan hockey team captain Ammad Shakil Butt has been denied a United Kingdom visa and will not be part of the national team in upcoming matches in England during the final leg of the FIH Pro League, causing a fresh setback to Pakistan hockey.
According to sources, Ammad will not accompany the squad for the remaining four fixtures scheduled from June 23 to 27. Pakistan are currently competing in Belgium, where they are facing Belgium and Spain in the penultimate stage of the tournament and have struggled for form, losing three of their first four matches.
According to sources, Imad Butt was refused a visa for England due to an overstay issue, as he had remained in the country after his visa had expired.
Reports suggest that he had previously travelled to England to play in a league, where his club had reportedly assured him that his visa would be extended. However, after returning to Pakistan, he was also required to pay a fine related to the overstay.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) reportedly used all possible channels to secure clearance for the captain’s travel but could not secure a visa. Ammad is now expected to return to Pakistan in the coming days.
Pakistani team is due to play arch-rivals India and hosts England in the final phase of the competition.
Furthermore, head coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior is also facing uncertainty in this connection, whose UK visa had not been issued at the time of reporting. If he is unable to travel, PHF Director High-Performance Tahir Zaman might be assigned the national team coaching responsibilities in England.
The development has caused serious concerns within Pakistan hockey circles, with officials fearing that frequent visa-related issues involving key members could damage the team’s international image and prestige. There are also concerns that such setbacks may affect team stability, preparation, and performance at major global events, further exerting pressure on an already struggling federation.
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