From June 9 to 21, 2025, the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur hosted the Nations Cup Hockey Tournament, where the Pakistan hockey team – led by Imad Shakeel Butt – delivered an impressive performance and advanced to the final. However, they suffered a 2-6 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, currently ranked tenth in the world.

Despite their on-field achievements in Pakistan’s national sport, the team made headlines for off-field controversies involving unpaid daily allowances and the deteriorating state of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

According to reports, the 18 players and six officials of the national team had yet to receive their daily allowances of PKR 30,000 each, even after the tournament concluded. Addressing the issue, Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary, Olympian Rana Mujahid, stated that the PHF had a total of PKR 15 million, which was used entirely to cover the team’s hotel expenses in Kuala Lumpur.

In response to the situation, the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Yasir Pirzada, intervened. He clarified that the PSB had efficiently arranged airline tickets for the 18 players and six officials to participate in the Nations Cup. Additionally, the federation had requested the PSB to cover hotel costs – something the federation was supposed to manage. However, Pirzada stated that there had been no prior discussion about the daily allowances.

While the PSB does financially support Pakistan’s national sport, recent allegations of mismanagement have strained relations between the PSB and the Hockey Federation. Nevertheless, the PHF continues to depend on the PSB’s cooperation for international tours and competitions.

Yasir Pirzada, who assumed office as Director General of the PSB on July 22, 2024, is a respected journalist and columnist. He also serves as CEO of the Pakistan Anti-Doping Board. During a meeting I had with him a few months ago in Lahore, he shared his belief that sports play a crucial role in national development and youth empowerment. He expressed his intention to lead the PSB with balance, integrity, and a strict adherence to policies and procedures.

When I contacted Yasir Pirzada again to discuss the latest developments, he spoke candidly. Unlike many of his predecessors, Pirzada favors transparency and avoids making decisions behind closed doors. He explained that the PSB oversees over 40 sports federations and is responsible for allocating funds to them. Upon taking office, he implemented a new policy: “Account for previous funds and show your performance.” He stressed that the PSB would not detach itself from financial accountability.

Pirzada acknowledged that the policy initially met with resistance from several federations. However, once enforcement became consistent, conditions began to improve. Today, whether it’s the Pakistan Tennis Federation, Table Tennis, Swimming, Volleyball, the National Rifle Association, or the Squash Federation, each has demonstrated noticeable progress at the international level. According to Pirzada, this is the very reason the PSB exists – to support and uplift Pakistan’s sports institutions in a responsible and transparent manner.

Highlighting recent achievements, Pirzada pointed to the Pakistan Athletics Federation, currently in the spotlight for its outstanding national and international performance. After 40 years, Arshad Nadeem qualified for the Paris Olympics, making the country proud. The PSB is fully supporting him and plans to allocate PKR 10 million for his preparation and training for upcoming events.

When asked about the growing perception that the PSB under his leadership is interfering in the internal affairs of sports federations, Pirzada firmly rejected the claim. He said the issue stems from a lack of accurate information. In his words, “The PSB is a responsible institution fulfilling its duties with transparency and accountability.”

Pirzada also referenced a landmark judgment by the Islamabad High Court, which directed the PSB to oversee fair elections for sports federations and to form an election commission. In compliance, the PSB established a three-member commission composed of retired judges. He stressed that the PSB does not interfere in internal matters, citing recent examples: during the Pakistan Football Federation elections, the PSB merely sent one observer, while FIFA directly supervised the elections. Similarly, the Pakistan Chess Federation specifically requested the PSB to conduct its elections.

Pirzada concluded by stating that recent elections held for three federations were not the result of personal intervention, but rather a direct implementation of the Islamabad High Court’s instructions.