Naqvi announces jobs, medical support for national hockey team

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced employment opportunities and medical support for members of the national hockey team, saying the board would bear treatment expenses for injured players, according to an official statement.

He said steps would be taken to provide employment opportunities to hockey players who are currently without jobs, adding that the PCB would also bear the medical expenses of injured players. He made the announcement during a meeting with players of the national side led by captain Imad Butt.

“Hockey players will be provided full support in terms of fitness and medical facilities,” Naqvi said, adding that the PCB would continue its cooperation with the national hockey team as it had done in the past.

He further said the board would always play its role in providing maximum facilities to the players and expressed hope that Pakistan would deliver an impressive performance in the upcoming Hockey World Cup.

The PCB chairman also congratulated the team for qualifying for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after eight years and praised the players for their dedication and hard work during the World Cup qualifying tournament, the statement added.

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Meanwhile, the national team coach Khawaja Junaid thanked the PCB chairman for his support, saying it had boosted the morale of the players and helped the team during difficult times.

Pakistan qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan in the semi-final of the qualifying tournament last week. The event is scheduled to begin on August 14 this year in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Pakistan had failed to qualify for the previous edition of the World Cup and last secured a place in the tournament in 2018.

This was the second meeting between the PCB chairman and the national team within a month. Last month, Naqvi met the players after Tariq Bugti, former head of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, stepped down following complaints by national players during their tour of Australia.

During that meeting, the players informed Naqvi about unpleasant incidents they had encountered during the league. He expressed regret over the mistreatment of hockey players and assured them that measures would be taken to ensure better treatment in the future.