ISLAMABAD - THE Pakistan Hockey Federation has slapped life bans on former hockey captains Mansoor Ahmed and Naveed Alam for misusing the name of the federation and misappropriation of funds, an official of PHF said on Saturday.

'The decision to put life ban on both Ahmed and Alam was taken during the executive board's meeting at Karachi on Friday,' PHF spokesman Shahzad Malik told the Associated Press.

Former goalkeeper Ahmed was found guilty of obtaining American visas for a women's team without approval from the PHF.

'It was a bogus team and Alam didn't get our clearance,' Malik said.

Alam, a former fullback, misused funds valued at 2.5 million rupees (S$44,268) whilst serving as manager and coach of the national team on a European tour last year.

Both players were part of the Pakistan team which won the 1994 World Cup - the country's last major title in the field hockey. -- AP