Massive reforms needed to revive hockey: Naveed Alam

E-Paper | March 14, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Former Olympian Naveed Alam on Wednesday called for strict action against the national hockey team and its management for their embarrassing failure in the recently held Hockey World League (HWL) in Antwerp, Belgium.

Welcoming the government’s decision to set up a committee for probing the team’s failure in the HWL, Naveed said that “massive reforms are needed to rehabilitate national hockey.”

“Whosoever from the team, its management and from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is responsible for the failure should be held accountable if we want to save our national game,” he emphasised.

Pakistan finished at a pathetic eighth spot in the 10-team HWL at Antwerp, in a tournament which served as qualifiers for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the 2010 World Cup held in India, Pakistan came last in the 12-nation showpiece. The green-shirts then also failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Earlier, at the 2012 London Olympics they again fared badly by finishing seventh.

Naveed disputed the PHF claim and that of the players that lack of funds hindered the team’s preparations for the Antwerp event.

“If the funds received by the PHF in early tenures had been used properly, this situation might not have arisen,” he said. “No system of check-and-balance was in place to see whether the funds are being used properly.”

“The PHF needs new faces who can run the game with passion and absolute honesty so that Pakistan can regain the status in world hockey.”

“There was a time when opposing teams feared facing Pakistan but the situation has now reversed and now it is Pakistan who fear encountering even weaker teams,” regretted Naveed.

He also offered a helping hand for the game’s revival: “Drastic changes and steps are required to save the game.”

Naveed expressed his surprise that great players like Islahuddin Siddiqui (chief selector) and Shahnaz Sheikh (head coach) couldn’t fix the game when chances were given to them.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Newspaper

Injured Hussain taken to hospital

Duplantis clears 6.31m to set 15th pole vault world record

Forest stunned by Midtjylland, Villa beat Lille in Europa League

arifkasam

Jul 09, 2015 11:01am

Take it out of politically inserted high ups

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Jul 09, 2015 02:38pm

Defense, quickness, dexterity and hand-eye coordination is what's needed. Even my mother could run fast.

Recommend 0

Aleem

Jul 09, 2015 11:52pm

@Cyrus All these things come in players who are physically and mentally fit and robust. Simply look at the pictures of Pakistani players and of the other teams and it looks as it the Pakistani side has been exposed to famine. There is no physical presence on the turf. The foreign teams are fitter, stronger and able to play a more dominating and physical game. Dexterity and hand-eye coordination does little when the other side has these attributes on top of being physically very strong.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.

Master MoltyFoam’s Women’s Day initiative supports the next generation of female athletes

This year, Master MoltyFoam used the occasion to highlight the importance of support in sports by launching an initiative focused on encouraging young female athletes in Pakistan.