SOON after its independence, Pakistan became a force to reckon with in the field of hockey, which was rightly named our national sport when we emerged as champions at all major events.

Back then, pictures, posters and interviews of our hockey stars outnumbered those of the cricketers. However, there has been a constant decline in hockey at least for the last more than two decades for a variety of reasons.

Pakistan, despite having won multiple Olympic, World Cup and Champions Trophy titles, is currently ranked 18th in the world. To make things worse and bring more frustration and disappointment for hockey buffs, the greenshirts even failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2014 World Cup.

It was nothing less than a catastrophe for hockey fans. It is heartbreaking to see Pakistan hockey in its current state. There are several reasons behind the present dismal state of affairs. Some pundits believe that the decline started in the late 1970s and 1980s when the International Hockey Federation (FIH) introduced Astroturf allegedly to topple and end the supremacy of the Asian giants – Pakistan and India.

The synthetic pitches changed the dynamics of the game, especially the dodge-and-dribble tactics that Pakistan had perfected in all those long years. The Astroturf demanded much greater physical fitness and standards which Pakistan has not been able to achieve. Crucially, changes to the game over the decades have meant that hockey now is a game different from the one that Pakistanis mastered in their prime.

However, these changes alone cannot be blamed. When the others adapted to the new playing conditions and surface, why could not Pakistan do that? The game evolved over the years, demanding better fitness, but the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) failed to keep up pace with the evolving times, and, as a result, Pakistan were left behind.

Cricket, the most popular sport in the country, is also blamed for hockey’s downfall after schools and educational institutions ignored hockey and started promoting cricket. PHF officials over the years have faced allegations of embezzlement and misuse of government funds, besides being widely criticised for poor planning, mismanagement and incompetence. Some also believe lack of international exposure and facilities are two of the several reasons for Pakistan’s downfall.

The ever-increasing glamour of cricket does not help hockey either as both the corporate sector and the government are attracted towards more lucrative publicity opportunities in cricket. The declining number of domestic tournaments, which act as a source of hunting talent, has also been damaging. If things are to change, we need improvement at every level.

The irony is that past legends have also been accused of selfish behaviour by analysts. Our former players continuously opposed the appointment of foreign coaches, but when they were given the opportunity to coach the national team, they miserably failed repeatedly.

The foreign coaches, who were better qualified and experienced in modern hockey, did not get enough time to perform due to the opposition and invalid criticism coming from our own former stalwarts.

Despite all the shortcomings, one cannot be pessimistic as the country is still full of talent and passion for hockey. The government needs to patronise hockey and start incentivising the players. After years of experimentation and trying several coaches, the PHF has now brought in Dutchman Siegfried Aikman, who led Japan to glory by helping them win Asian Games gold in 2018.

Pakistan’s immediate goal is to qualify for the 2023 World Cup via the Asia Cup which will be held in 2022. Pakistan hockey certainly needs and deserves a national effort. It is true that hockey is still the only sport in which Pakistan has any real chance of winning an Olympic medal. Can the greenshirts bring that lost glory? Let us hope they can.

Muhammad Noman Riaz
Attock

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2022