Lahore: Members of the Pakistan national hockey team have strongly criticized the proposal of a Rs. 400 daily allowance, terming it an insult to their profession and sacrifices.

Expressing their anger, players said that Rs. 400 is not even equivalent to a laborer’s daily wage, yet they are being asked to accept it as an allowance. “This is not just disappointing, it is humiliating. How much more disregard can one show for athletes representing the country?” one player remarked.

The players highlighted that they already face severe unemployment issues, and whatever allowances they are entitled to often get delayed. “If such conditions persist, we will be forced to abandon hockey altogether. Our love for Pakistan is unquestionable, but being offered Rs. 400 is heartbreaking,” they added.

They further revealed that many of them are struggling to run household kitchens, with families suffering due to lack of proper financial support.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid clarified that it was actually the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) that suggested the Rs. 400 daily allowance. He emphasized that PHF itself provides $100 as a daily allowance to players, questioning, “If players are not satisfied with $100, how could they possibly agree to Rs. 400?”

The controversy underscores the long-standing financial crisis in Pakistan’s national sport, once a global powerhouse but now facing repeated setbacks due to inadequate funding and poor administrative support.