Pakistani hockey captain Ammad Butt has thanked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for supporting the team after it secured three consecutive wins in the ongoing Hockey World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to a reporter after the pool stage, the Pakistani captain praised his teammates for their performance and credited the management for backing the players.
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. We won all three matches in the pool stage. I believe my team performed really well, and I give all the credit to my players. Alhamdulillah, we have qualified for the semi-final,” he said.
Butt said the upcoming semi-final will be crucial for Pakistan as it will decide their chances of reaching the Hockey World Cup.
“The semi-final is a very important match for us because it is a knockout game. Winning it is very necessary for our team because we want to qualify for the World Cup and present this achievement as a gift to our country,” he added.
The captain also appreciated support from authorities and said that the players received proper facilities during the tournament.
“I would like to thank Mohsin Naqvi for fully supporting Pakistan hockey. I also thank the Government of Pakistan for listening to our concerns and addressing the issues that existed before. The players have been facilitated in the best possible way, and the boys have performed with full dedication,” he said.
Butt also praised the new coaching staff and management working with the team. He said the staff continues to guide the players in the right direction as they aim to qualify for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Pakistan continued their impressive run in the qualifiers with a victory over Austria. Pakistan defeated Austria 4-2 in the ongoing tournament in Ismailia, Egypt, to secure their third consecutive win.
Pakistan held a 2-0 lead by the end of the third quarter before adding two more goals in the final quarter to seal the match. Abu Bakar scored two goals for Pakistan, while Azfar and Sufyan Khan added one goal each.
Pakistan will now play the semi-final on Friday. A win in the match will secure direct qualification for the Hockey World Cup.
The Green Shirts also have a chance to return to the World Cup after eight years. Pakistan last played in the tournament in 2018.
The team’s recent success comes after a period of controversy last month.
Upon returning from the Australia tour earlier this year, Butt accused the Pakistan Hockey Federation and team management of lying to players, suppressing their voices, and subjecting them to demeaning living conditions.
Following the controversy, Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti resigned as PHF president. The players then met with Mohsin Naqvi, who assured them of his support, and awarded each player one million rupees.