By winning the inaugural hockey World Cup in 1971, Pakistan had completed the Grand Slam of hockey, having already taken gold in field hockey at the 1968 Olympics and the 1970 Asian Games. Then, at the 1972 Olympics, Pakistan reached the final, where they lost to host West Germany 0-1. But they lost something more.

The final turned out to be a rough contest. The Green Shirts felt they were the victims of bad umpiring. They vented at the victory ceremony where, instead of receiving the silver medals around their necks, almost all of them took them in their hands and also refused to face the West German flag as it was being hoisted.

It all led to disciplinary action by the International Hockey Federation. It was recommended that the 13 players who had misbehaved be banned for life. Finally, a one-year ban was imposed on them. Thus they couldn’t be considered for the second World Cup in 1973. 

Pakistan had to raise a new side for the World Cup that was held in Amstelveen in the Netherlands from August 24 to September 2, exactly 50 years ago. Sending a team entirely consisting of novices would not have been a wise decision, so the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) recalled a few old-timers still active on the domestic circuit.

This is the story of the glory days of Pakistan hockey from 50 years ago, when the domestic structure of the sport was so good that even a second string team made its mark at the World Cup

They included the legendary right-winger Khalid Mahmood, the victorious captain of the first World Cup. He was again named the captain. Two members of the 1968 Olympic gold medalist team, left-half Gulraiz Akhtar and forward Laeeq Ahmad, were also recalled.

The great full-back Tanvir Dar, the top scorer of the first World Cup, had got injured before the first match of the 1972 Olympics and didn’t play in the entire event. He had escaped the ban. 

Another escapee, centre-half Akhtar Rasool, was also included in the team.

Right-half Arshad Chaudhry was a surprise nomination. He was selected for the 1971 World Cup when the legendary Saeed Anwar became unfit. But, in the first match of the World Cup, Arshad’s poor display prompted the team management to switch him with forward Jahangir Butt to the right-half position for the rest of the tournament.

For the 1973 World Cup, Brigadier Hameedi, Pakistan’s captain of the first Olympic gold medal-winning side (1960), had been named the manager. Not satisfied with Arshad Chaudhry during the camp, Hameedi wanted a newcomer, Shahid Ali Khan, at the right-half spot. But Arshad Chaudhry had the support of a powerful lobby. He was the nephew (and future son-in-law) of Dr Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry, Pakistan’s former captain and team manager.

However, on Hameedi’s insistence, Shahid Ali Khan was taken as an additional 17th member when the team left Pakistan. On their way, Pakistan played some practice matches in Spain, where Akhtar Rasool got injured and had to return to Pakistan.

At the World Cup, 11 of the 16 players were making their international debut. Almost all the new players had attended the national camp for the 1972 Olympics and were determined to avail this opportunity. Pakistan started well at Wagener Stadium, the Netherland’s most famous hockey venue. They defeated Malaysia 4-2 and next faced the hosts, and hot favourites, Netherlands.

To the delight of the packed crowd, the Dutch led 1-0 at half time. Then the teenage right-in Mohammed Azam netted twice and Pakistan won an exciting match. This performance erased all doubts about Pakistan’s second string. 

England turned out to be a tough opponent. Pakistan led, trailed, and equalised to end with 2-2. The legendary penalty-corner striker Tanvir Dar struck both goals in a 2-0 win over Belgium. He could have got a hat-trick there but he misfired during a penalty stroke.

Still, Dar did score a hat-trick in Pakistan’s last pool match against Argentina. In Pakistan’s 6-0 victory, one of the goals was scored by a 16-year-old left-out, Safdar Abbas, a student of Karachi’s Habib Public School. Samiullah, who later became the greatest left-winger in Pakistan’s history, was originally left-in and played in that position throughout the tournament.

With four wins and one draw, Pakistan was at the top of their pool. At both the 1971 World Cup and the 1972 Olympics, the country’s first strings had finished second in their pools.           

The semi-final was against Pakistan’s traditional rivals India, the other giants of Asian hockey. It was a close contest, with both sides getting opportunities. Apart from open play chances, Pakistan earned six penalty corners. The top scorer of the tournament, Tanvir Dar (seven goals), was unlucky. A couple of strikes missed the target narrowly. Once, a defender made a goal-line save after the goalkeeper had been beaten.

India were also unlucky. They even wasted a penalty stroke. Harmeek Singh’s weak push was saved by goalkeeper Muneer Pervez. Eight minutes before the final whistle, India’s celebrated centre-forward Govinda scored the match-winner with a beautiful reverse flick.

The third place playoff between Pakistan and West Germany also went to the wire. Michael Krause scored the only goal of the tie just two minutes before the end and Pakistan finished fourth. The Netherlands won the final against India. The new world champions’ only defeat had come against Pakistan.

The Pakistani players’ exemplary behaviour throughout the tournament helped in erasing the stigma of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Of the youngsters, who had their first international appearance, a few faded soon. Some represented the country for a longer time. Samiullah and full-back Manzoorul Hassan went on to gain immortal status in the annals of hockey.  

Pakistan raised a second string in the unhappiest circumstances which proved its mettle against the world’s best teams at the biggest stage. It was a reflection of the strength of hockey’s domestic structure then.

Dedicated people ran the clubs across the length and breadth of the county. There were numerous tournaments. As a result, there were quality players available at every position, an embarrassment of riches for the selectors. A far cry from the situation today.

The writer is a freelance sports journalist based in Lahore.
He tweets @IjazChaudhry1 and can
be reached at ijaz62@hotmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 3rd, 2023