Ammad Butt issues heartfelt apology after winless FIH Pro League campaign

Skipper Ammad Butt has apologised to the nation following Pakistan's winless 2026 FIH Pro League campaign, while urging the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the government to take concrete steps to revive the country's hockey structure.

In a heartfelt message shared on his Instagram account, the 30-year-old admitted that the team's performances fell well below expectations and acknowledged the disappointment of supporters. 

He also thanked fans who continued to stand by the national side despite the poor results.

“The Pro League chapter comes to an end. The results are not favourable, and for that, I apologise to the whole nation. Thank you for supporting us, and a special thanks to those who are still supporting us and understanding our struggles,” Butt said.

Reflecting on the emotional impact of the campaign, Butt said the players had endured the pain of repeated defeats but insisted they had given everything they could under the circumstances.

“Being a player, it is not easy to sleep with the weight of loss on the chest, it's not that we have not tried. We have given the best possible we could. It's a saying that Champions are not born, they are MADE. We did WHAT WE COULD IN OUR CAPACITY,” he stated.

The Pakistan captain stressed that competing consistently with the world's top hockey nations would only be possible through sustained institutional backing. 

He called on both the federation and the government to play their part in strengthening the national team's long-term development rather than responding only after disappointing results.

“To increase our capacity to truly compete with the world's best teams. Our Federation and our Government have to play their role. It is high time for action rather than reaction,” he said.

Butt also revealed that he had faced considerable criticism for repeatedly raising concerns about the team's shortcomings but vowed to continue speaking out for the benefit of the players. 

He highlighted the structured development pathways adopted by leading hockey nations and contrasted them with Pakistan's lack of long-term planning.

“I have been the one who has faced the most backlash due to this, but I am not going to stop. I will continue to speak out and do whatever is necessary for our players to get what they need to perform," Ammad Butt said.

"You see our results, but you don't see the rigorous, head-to-toe development processes of other nations. They program their players for long-term success, whereas we are often left waiting for a training camp to be announced just before tournaments,” he added.

Concluding his message, the skipper clarified that his remarks were intended as a call for reform rather than criticism, reiterating that his only objective was to secure better support and resources for Pakistan's hockey players.

“Yet again, I am not complaining, I am demanding for the betterment of the players to improve the game for the sake of Pakistan,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan's FIH Pro League campaign ended with a 7-0 defeat to England at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Saturday, marking the side's 16th consecutive loss.

The result meant Pakistan finished the nine-team tournament without a single victory, losing all 16 of their matches—two against each of the other eight participating teams—and ended bottom of the standings with a goal difference of -57.