Batra, elected President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in November, sparked widespread outrage for a series of messages he posted on Facebook in the wake of Pakistan's huge victory over India in the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy at The Oval in London on Sunday (June 18).

The FIH head responded to comments made by Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who used Twitter to congratulate the Pakistan team.

Farooq is the spiritual leader of the Muslims in Kashmir, a territory disputed by India, Pakistan and China.

Pakistan had thrashed their Indian opponents by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy, sparking wild scenes of celebration in Kashmir Valley, which is administered by India.

Batra, the former President of Hockey India, hit out at Farooq's tweets with a derogatory Facebook post.

The Indian labelled Farooq as a "Pakistani sucker" and a "pig", before claiming he should return to Pakistan.

The FIH were then forced to apologise for any offence caused by Batra, who also called 44-year-old Farooq a "Pakistan sympathiser".

Batra has not publicly apologised for his actions, however.

"Such things only spoil relationships, on and off the field," Ahmed, a former Pakistan international who won an Olympic bronze medal at the Barcelona Games in 1992, told the Hindustan Times in response to Batra's comments.

"Batra forgot that he is the President of FIH. 

"He needs to be fair in his position and avoid making remarks on issues that are beyond the control of hockey players, administrators and fans, three of the biggest stakeholders of any sport."

Ahmed, who has been the PHF secretary general since 2015, recalled how Pakistan players were made to apologise for their overly-wild celebrations after earning victory over India at the 2014 Hockey Champions Trophy.

"Will Mr Batra do the same?" he added.

The 48-year-old was also critical of India's players for wearing black armbands during their Hockey World League semi-final encounter with Pakistan in London.

The match, which India won 7-1, took place on the same day as the ICC Champions Trophy final.

It is thought India were protesting at the death of soldiers patrolling the troubled frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir amid ongoing political tension between the two countries.

Ahmed admitted his disappointment at the gesture, which he claimed even the Organising Committee of the World League tournament were unhappy with, but questioned whether the players were to blame if the the FIH President "does not know where to draw the line".

"It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth at a time when all the world federations are trying their best to use sports as a message of peace," Ahmed added.

"Why didn’t the Indian cricket team wear black armbands during the ICC Champions Trophy? 

"They played Pakistan not once but twice. 

"When you use players to deliver political messages, it is not in the right spirit."

Batra, whose posts were deleted following a request from the FIH, also criticised police in Britain for summoning Indian player Sardar Singh for questioning after the match against Pakistan.

He was reportedly asked to be questioned in connection with an alleged sexual assault case.

Batra claimed "England is a country which is a safe heaven (sic) for all fraudsters who have run away from India and agree to invest in England" after British authorities asked Singh in for questioning.

The former Indian captain was asked to travel to Leeds to be questioned.

Singh was last year accused by a British woman of rape and assault both in India and the UK.