LAHORE, July 15: With the national team facing a tall order to qualify for the 2014 FIH World Cup, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday appointed Tahir Zaman the coach of the team in place of Hanif Khan.

Akhtar Rasool, meanwhile, remains the manager and head-coach.

Pakistan’s dismal performance at the FIH World League semi-final round in Malaysia earlier this month meant they missed out on securing a berth at next year’s World Cup, scheduled to be held at Hague in the Netherlands.

Rumours had since been swirling of changes in the PHF management and Tahir, who was working as a consultant during the World League, was expected to be named head coach.

But after Akhtar refused to tender his resignation, the PHF decided to hire Tahir in place of Hanif.

“After consultations with [PHF president] Qasim Zia, we have decided to bring in Tahir as coach of the team,” a confident PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said at a news conference.

“Hanif, meanwhile, has been sidelined for the time being but the PHF will look to take advantage of his abilities by naming him for another post.”

Pakistan now have to win the upcoming Asian Cup in order to qualify for the World Cup and the training camp for the event starts in Lahore from July 21.

Bajwa accepted the challenge was tough but reiterated that his management had the track record of achieving required targets.

“The Asia Cup is not an easy tournament as the last time we won it was in 1989,” he said. “This is a tough tournament and an important one for us now and we will field our best possible line-up to do what we have to.”

Bajwa sidestepped on questions regarding why Hanif was sacked and Akhtar was spared.

“Hanif couldn’t achieve an easy target of finishing in the top three in the World League and under the light of manager’s report, this decision has been taken,” he said.

Defending Akhtar, Bajwa said: “Akhtar is a visionary person so his presence is essential. Akhtar has always given a free hand to the coaches under him and hopefully there will be no differences between him and Tahir regarding which style of play Pakistan should adopt.”

Akhtar is said to be in favour of old techniques while Tahir is said to be an advocate of modern-style European hockey.

“In the Asia Cup, we will go with new zeal to not only regain the title after a gap of 24 years but also qualify for the World Cup as Asian champions,” Bajwa added.

Earlier, Bajwa slammed Pakistan’s former players for criticising the PHF time and again.

“We have an important assignment [Asian Cup] to come but a conspiracy is being hatched by some former players to divert the attention towards other things with their untimely criticism,” he said.

“They [former players] have never come forward to give us any advice for the betterment of national hockey despite our many offers to them.

“Even when we won the Asian Champions Trophy and a bronze medal in the Champions Trophy no one came ahead to praise us.

“Nevertheless, we are confident of winning the Asian Cup and it is not the first time that Pakistan has played a qualifying round for the World Cup.”