Record four-time World Cup winners, Pakistan, will not be a part of the Rio Olympics next year and the state of turmoil the national game finds itself in is largely due to corruption and political interference.

The investigation committee set up by Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, who is the patron in chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), dismissed former president Akhtar Rasool and secretary Rana Mujahid.

The duo failed to bring any positive change to Pakistan Hockey, and it was surprising that they received a celebratory farewell where they were showered with flower petals.

It was time for a change and thus came in the former Pakistan captain and fan-favourite, Shahbaz Ahmed Sr, who was appointed as the new PHF secretary.

The first challenge for the Pakistan hockey team in Shahbaz’s tenure was the Sultan of Johor junior hockey tournament in Malaysia. The youth team failed miserably, finishing 6th in the tournament and getting hammered 5-1 by India along the way.

In an exclusive interview with Dawn, Shahbaz reveals the dismal state of hockey at the youth level and his plans for rescuing the national game.

Q. When you took the seat as the PHF Secretary, Pakistan had just suffered the ignominy of not qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Can you pinpoint the reasons for Pakistan falling to this historic low?

SA: It is clear that Pakistan hockey is going through a very tough time currently. Apart from the fact that we did not participate in the 2014 World Cup and will miss the Olympics for the very first time in the game's history, what depresses me most is the intense scarcity of talent at all levels.

I have been going to trials and training sessions but I've hardly noticed a player with good skills. Energy and fitness is nowhere to be seen.

But I am committed to bring change and make Pakistan shine again in the world of hockey and I am working with the same passion I had when I was a player.

Q. With things looking so bleak, how do you stay positive about the future?

Pakistan will clearly not be able to win titles for at least the next four to five years. Our aim is to organise as many domestic hockey tournament as possible so that the pool of players can increase out of which talent will be identified.

We will make hockey popular all over the country again.

Q. What are your view on the previous management of the PHF? Where did they fail?

I think that anyone who fails to bring improvement to the system after being granted a two to three year tenure, are not good administrators. The people at the helm of the previous management should be taken to task regardless of who they are.

The wounds that Pakistan has received in this time will take more than five years to heal.

Q. There were allegations of corruption and misuse of funds on the previous two managements. What is the progress on that investigation?

The Pakistan Sports Board or the sports ministry will know better about this. I will cooperate fully if the auditor general asks for any help.

Q. The former president and secretary have been very vocal about ‘lack of funds’. What do you say about that?

As far as I know, a grant of Rs 90 million was received by the PHF for development. I would not like to talk about corruption as I have no proof, but the current situation does not suggest that such a high amount of money has been spent in the right direction.

Q. Former secretary Asif Bajwa talked about setting up 18 academies during his time. You were a part of the executive board then too. Are those academies still in the pipeline?

I joined the executive board as Bajwa requested me to do it and what separated me from it was the decision to set up so many academies without the required resources. Neither did we have the funds nor the quality coaches. We do not even have so many players anymore. These academies were 'built' only on paper and I knew it from the start that they would remain only on paper.

Q. Your tenure started with a humiliating defeat of the junior hockey team in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia. What were the reasons?

The junior team did fail badly, but we hardly knew anything about the qualities the players in the squad that visited Malaysia.

However, we have our eyes on the future tournaments, especially the upcoming junior Asia Cup in which we will be aiming to reach the semi-finals.

Q. How are things planned for the senior team as there an competitive fixtures line up for the next few months?

Since the senior team has failed to qualify for the Olympics they will not play much hockey this year. But we are looking forward to next year’s Azlan Shah tournament and talks are underway for a Test series with Netherlands and Australia.

Q. What are your plans and expectations regarding the revival of international hockey in the country? Are there any chances of an Indo-Pak series?

If the international teams are not ready to tour Pakistan then, frankly, there is nothing we can do about it currently.

As far as India is concerned, it is foolish to try to contact them after what happened with Najam Sethi and Shaharyar Khan.

Q. You don't seem to have too much faith in the current talent. Are there any chances for improvement?

Future prospects can be improved only by working at the grass-roots level and promoting hockey at the school level.

We will not take unnecessary pressure but will make sure no time is wasted.

The current squad in my opinion cannot win championships even if 18 Olympians coach each player individually.

Translated from Urdu by Mir Shabbar Ali