Two Pakistani hockey players have announced to play controversial World Series Hockey in India violating the ban imposed by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in line with International Hockey Federation (IHF)'s decision. Former captain of Pakistan hockey team Zeeshan Ashraf and player Adnan Maqsood have left for India to play the World Series hockey, while former captain Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi and Waseem Ahmed are expected to join the league.
Zeeshan Ashraf said that hockey is our bread and butter so we are going to India, as hockey players. He blamed that the PHF had not allowed him to play domestic hockey. He said he did not get any job after winning the Asian Games. Adnan Maqsood adopted the same instance and said, he had signed a contract for playing the World Series Hockey some nine months ago. If he is not allowed to play in the country then he would have no option except to play hockey abroad. PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa rebutted claims of both the players and said the players who would play the series would have to face action.