Pakistan men's hockey team has ascended one place in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings, landing at 15th after their recent participation in the Paris Olympics qualifiers held in Muscat, Oman.
Despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Green Shirts have shown resilience in the rankings.
The current top three teams according to FIH are the Netherlands, Belgium, and India, with Germany, England, and Australia securing the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, respectively.
However, the joy of this achievement is marred by the revelation from the team's captain, Ammad Butt, who disclosed on Monday that the players have not received their salaries from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for the past six months.
This financial setback has raised concerns about the treatment of the players who have been representing the nation on the international stage.
In an Instagram post, Captain Ammad expressed gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support and shed light on the challenges faced by the players. He highlighted the lack of facilities and government support, emphasizing the absence of sponsorship, media coverage, and a proper professional system for the past decade.
Ammad Butt concluded his post by calling for support for the team, emphasizing their commitment to performing well for the country in the future. The plea comes as the team faces financial struggles and strives to overcome the disappointment of missing out on Olympic qualification for the third consecutive time.
It is worth noting that Pakistan fell short in their bid for Olympic qualification, losing to New Zealand in the third/fourth place match of the qualifiers on Sunday. The road to Paris 2024 was blocked by Germany, who secured a 4-0 victory in the semifinals after a crucial 3-3 draw against Malaysia.
Despite the setback, the Green Shirts managed to secure a victory against China in the competition after losing their opening game to Great Britain. The team finished the pool matches with four points, trailing behind Great Britain (nine points) in Pool A, while Malaysia concluded with one point and China with three.
