By Alam Zeb Safi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a sweeping overhaul of the country’s hockey structure following the national men’s team’s disappointing finish at the bottom of the FIH Pro League standings, introducing a zero-tolerance policy on performance, fitness and discipline as part of a long-term revival plan.
In a policy statement issued on Sunday, the PHF described the team’s recent performances as unacceptable, saying the results exposed serious deficiencies in physical fitness, tactical awareness and adaptation to the modern game, making urgent reforms unavoidable.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said the current administration had taken charge only a few months ago after the first two phases of the Pro League had already been played last year. He said the new management had focused on resolving administrative and logistical issues to ensure Pakistan’s participation in the final leg of the tournament.
Despite the disappointing Pro League campaign, Wani noted that the same squad had recently qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup, demonstrating its underlying potential. He also highlighted the performance of Pakistan’s youth setup, with the national Under-18 team winning the bronze medal at a tournament in Japan.
The federation said it would implement a comprehensive three- to four-year strategic plan aimed at restoring Pakistan’s standing in international hockey. Under the new policy, selection to the national team and the awarding of central contracts will be based strictly on performance, fitness and discipline, with no tolerance for substandard physical conditioning or breaches of team rules.
As part of the restructuring, the PHF plans to recruit a panel of international coaches and high-performance fitness trainers from leading hockey nations, including Australia, the Netherlands and Germany, on long-term contracts to modernize both the senior and junior national programmes.
The federation also pledged to invest equally in the development of women’s hockey during the four-year cycle. It said dedicated training camps, localized talent pathways and international-standard coaching programmes would be introduced to build a stronger pipeline of female players.
Looking ahead, the PHF announced that South Korea’s national team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in July for a bilateral series, with Pakistan set to make a return visit in September before launching its Asian Games campaign.
Wani acknowledged that rebuilding Pakistan’s status in world hockey would require patience and sustained effort, saying the federation intended to use the four-year cycle and an expanded international match schedule to establish a transparent, merit-based system capable of producing long-term success.
Pakistan, once a dominant force in international hockey with four World Cup titles and three Olympic gold medals, has struggled in recent decades amid administrative challenges, declining standards and reduced international competitiveness.
