Sports bodies and hockey organizations across the country are now demanding immediate corrective measures from the new PHF leadership and Federal Secretary Mohyuddin Wani. Their primary demand is the restoration of Nasir Bunda Hockey Stadium fees to the original Rs1,500 level so that clubs can once again resume regular sporting activities.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 17 /DNA/ – The recent removal of Yasir Pirzada from the position of Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has sparked intense discussion within sports circles across the country. While the official narrative remains limited, insiders within the sports community believe the decision was the result of growing tensions between the DG Sports Board and the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry, particularly over the future direction of sports reforms in Pakistan.

According to sources, the federal secretary of the IPC Ministry had been pushing for major reforms aimed at improving facilities for athletes, strengthening sports organizations, and reviving grassroots sports. However, these efforts reportedly faced resistance from within the PSB administration under Yasir Pirzada, whose critics often pointed out that he had no substantial background in sports management.

Sports officials and former players argue that several decisions taken during Pirzada’s tenure badly damaged national sports, especially hockey, Pakistan’s national game which is already struggling for survival. One of the most controversial decisions was the massive increase in fees for the use of the historic Nasir Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad. The fee was reportedly raised from Rs1,500 to Rs6,000 per match or training session, a move that local clubs described as devastating.

Grassroots hockey suffered the most from this decision. Small clubs, which operate on limited budgets and rely on community support, simply could not afford the increased charges. As a result, regular practice sessions, youth tournaments, and local competitions gradually disappeared. Coaches and former Olympians repeatedly warned that the policy would destroy the foundation of hockey development in the country, but their concerns allegedly went unheard.

The controversy surrounding Pakistan hockey deepened further during the Pro League tour of Australia. Reports of mismanagement and internal disputes surfaced during the visit, creating embarrassment for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Matters worsened after team captain Ammad Butt returned from the tour and publicly criticized the hockey management. His statements triggered a major crisis within the PHF, eventually leading to the resignation of PHF President Tariq Bugti, Secretary Rana Mujahid, and other officials.

Sources within the sports community claim that Yasir Pirzada played a behind-the-scenes role in encouraging Ammad Butt to issue those statements against the federation management. The alleged objective, according to insiders, was to weaken the PHF leadership and increase administrative influence over hockey affairs. However, once these allegations reached senior government circles and Pirzada’s alleged role came under scrutiny, the government reportedly decided to send him back to his parent department, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Sports bodies and hockey organizations across the country are now demanding immediate corrective measures from the new PHF leadership and Federal Secretary Mohyuddin Wani. Their primary demand is the restoration of Nasir Bunda Hockey Stadium fees to the original Rs1,500 level so that clubs can once again resume regular sporting activities.

Stakeholders believe that unless grassroots hockey is revived and sports administration is placed in capable hands with genuine sports understanding, Pakistan’s decline in international sports will continue. The removal of Yasir Pirzada, many say, is only the first step toward broader reforms that Pakistan sports desperately needs.=DNA