KARACHI, Aug 4: Pakistan hockey team is likely to have a new set of officials governing them pretty soon with strong indications of Olympians Khawaja Zakauddin, Manzoorul Hassan and Hanif Khan taking over as manager and coaches respectively.

Also in contention is Jeddah-based Shahnaz Sheikh who as manager-cum-coach may scoop up the two main hockey positions rolled into one if the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) opts for a one-man management.

Although the new secretary of the PHF, Akhtarul Islam recently indicated that a foreign coach might be given the reins of the national outfit for a longer-term, sources say that the incumbent manager-cum-coach Asif Bajwa will be replaced by local Olympians.

The reason for the recent development is the pathetic performance of the team at Terrassa Champions Trophy where green shirts flopped badly to finsh a poor fifth.

Pakistan had also finished fifth in the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year while in April’s World Cup qualifiers in Changzou, China Pakistan settled for fourth place where lowly-rated New Zealand emerged winners followed by South Korea and minnows England.

Interestingly, Zaka, Manzoor and Hanif have all served Pakistan team several times before, either in the manager’s capacity or as coaches before being removed unceremoniously.

Zaka’s last assignment was the 1999 Champions Trophy where team was relegated with Shahnaz Shaikh serving as coach. Manzoor coached the national team during 1987 and 1990 and also in 1996 for a pre-Olympic tournament. His last assignment was Azlan Shah Cup in 1999 after which he was removed.

Likewise, if Hanif takes charge it will be his fourth tenure as coach. The last time former captain was associated with Pakistan team was in 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur where the team managed a fifth place.

Hanif, a mercurial striker in his heyday, had categorically stated before departing for Kuala Lumpur that he would step down after the World Cup. The former selector, however, changed his mind and withdrew his decision on his return. The then PHF set up of president Gen Aziz Khan and secretary Brig Musarrat Ulllah Khan, however, replaced him with Tahir Zaman.

It will be, however, a surprise decision if PHF goes ahead with the plan of bringing the Olympians because Akhtar has clearly stated that PHF would only be looking for qualified coaches other than the Olympians and would preferably go for a foreigner.

When approached for comments, Manzoor said although he had not been officially approached by any PHF official he expressed a keen desire to join the Pakistan squad “in the interest of the game.”

“I have also heard that I am being appointed manager in place of Asif. But nobody from PHF has contacted me so far. One thing I can surely say that I will have no hesitation in accepting the post since it is an honour to serve the country,” Manzoor told Dawn from Faisalabad.

Asked whether he would be comfortable if offered a short-term assignment till World Cup, Manzoor said he would be more than willing to manage the team irrespective of the duration of his assignment.

“It doesn’t matter if World Cup is just 30 days away. Somebody has to take over. I will have no objection if I am asked to do the job till World Cup,” remarked the former coach.

Sources, nevertheless, said Hanif would not accept a two-month assignment till World Cup and only a two-year tenure — at least till 2008 Beijing Olympics — would be acceptable.

PHF president Tariq Kirmani and Hanif were not available for comments on the matter.