Canberra hotel fiasco: Pakistan Hockey Federation under scrutiny after PSB gives payment proof

Under-fire Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has found itself in hot water after the state-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) confirmed that it had given the sports body more than 10 million rupees to arrange for hotel accommodation of the national team in Australia.

The PHF and PSB have been under fire after it came to light that the Pakistan hockey team had to wait for 13-14 hours at Sydney airport, as the federation had not arranged for any accommodation or food for the players and officials at the airport before their onward flight to Canberra.

The Pakistan team had to endure a chaotic start to its FIH Pro League campaign after being left without hotel accommodation upon arrival in Canberra, reportedly due to unpaid bills by the PHF. After travelling for nearly 24 hours from Lahore to Australia’s capital ahead of the second leg of the Pro League, the players and support staff reached the designated four-star hotel, where they were informed that no booking existed in their name.

The players had to wait for hours outside the hotel with their luggage in two, before immigrant Pakistanis in Canberra arranged for cheap Airnb accommodation.

Next day, Pakistan lost 3-2 in its first match against Australia. The side then went onto lose its three subsequent games.

The PSB has now issued a photocopy of the cheque for 10 million and 5 lakh rupees it issued to the PHF on January 28 to pay for the hotel accommodation.

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The Pakistan government had earlier approved a special grant of more than 30 million rupees for the tournament.

The PHF, on its part, kept on denying that the players and officials faced any difficulties in Australia and has dubbed it as an attempt to demoralise the team.

Published on Feb 16, 2026