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READ: When Pakistan coach Rehan Butt turned out as player in SAG

The situation occurred, when no other standbye player could get a visa at such a short notice.

READ: When Pakistan coach Rehan Butt turned out as player in SAG

New Delhi: In a rarest of rare incident, Pakistan's hockey coach Rehan Butt, turned out as a player in the on-going South Asian Games (SAG), taking place in Guwahati.

Retired national player Butt, who was appointed as a coach for the 12th SAG, has played in first two matches for his team, including Monday's game against India.

The situation occurred, when no other standbye player could get a visa at such a short notice, and at last Butt had agreed to enter as a player.

“The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) asked me to enter my name as a player because one of the selected player's Samiullah was not granted visa for India," Rehan Butt told PTI.

"I was forced to take the field as a player but I have enjoyed the experience," Butt said after Pakistan's 2-1 win over India in Monday.

A spokesman for the PHF said that the squad was made up of 15 players but head coach Muhammad Saqlain had requested us to allow him to use Butt as the 16th player to execute his plans properly in the Games.

Earlier, Butt was also part of the team, which beat Sri Lanka 3-0 at SAG.

(With Agency inputs)