Akhtar Rasool urges unity to help Pakistan hockey regain glory

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Akhtar Rasool on Monday appealed to all former players to unify in order to resurrect the national game instead of criticising each other.

“Hockey cannot be put back on track singlehandedly and we should all gather at one platform to help Pakistan return to its glory days in the sport,” Akhtar told reporters here at the National Hockey Stadium.

“The failure to qualify for the Olympics [for the first time in Pakistan’s history], has saddened us all but we have to unite to achieve our targets,” added the PHF chief who was speaking to the media for the first time since Pakistan failed to reach next year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro following their eighth-place finish in the Hockey World League Semi-finals in June-July.

“It isn’t good that former players aren’t discussing team selection or individual performances but are instead critisising some officials. This isn’t the right way to occupy the PHF as only a constitutional change can do that.”

Akhtar added that the PHF was unable to complete its preparation plan for the HWL Semi-Finals due to paucity of funds.

“We didn’t play in the Azlan Shah Cup and failed in touring Spain whilst reaching Belgium [for the HWL Semi-Finals] just five days prior to the event and that too thanks to a helping hand lent by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB),” he said.

He denied the impression that he had lost the confidence of the Prime Minister, who despite being PHF’s Patron-in-Chief, did not issue the annual grant to the federation.

“The Prime Minister is my political leader and if he wants me to resign, I’ll do that without any hesitation,” Akhtar said. “If anyone assures me that hockey can improve without me, I’m willing to leave.”

Despite their Olympic heartbreak Pakistan hockey team fared relatively well in recent past, playing three finals in a row last year at the Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy and the FIH Champions Trophy.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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syed wasim haider@hotmail.com

Jul 28, 2015 11:20am

Pakistan hockey need a foreign coach.Our heroes have almost completely failed to deliver;sorry to say.

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M Jamal

Jul 28, 2015 12:56pm

Akhtar Rasul needs unity but he won't quit.He is following the footsteps of our politician and rulers who couldn't deliver but hang with the power till they are thrown out.Our culture does not allow to accept our mistake and resign.Pity and shame.

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dolphin

Jul 28, 2015 03:18pm

time to hire some one who knows the modern hockey not the 70s or 80s one,otherwise after each defeat keep blaming the sun and moon

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Ashraf Usman

Jul 28, 2015 03:59pm

Its high time for him to handover the mantle to a competent person rather than presenting lame excuses. Hockey has suffered a lot because of him.

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Kashif

Jul 28, 2015 04:01pm

What stupid comments, as a foreign coach will solve the problem. Very few in Pakistan play competitive hockey, the game is death so how can a foreign coach solve the problem. Start playing hockey at schools from 7 years onwards. If every kid will touch a hockeystick and play hockey you are bound to found enough kids who will love the game and start playing it in their spare time as well. Have a national school competition for 12 years old, pick the best and put them in hockey academies (academy per population size of two million) and let them play a regional competition. Have a good first class competition (not just tournaments) and pay the players a decent wage and opportunities for further education (maybe employment). You will have a lot of talented players coming through and with this structure Pakistan will always be a top contender in the world.

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umar

Jul 28, 2015 04:10pm

@Kashif agree with your article and also we need club formation with proper leagues

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ahmedj

Jul 28, 2015 04:46pm

Unless the hockey talent is discovered outside Punjab, there is no hope. KPK formerly NWFP and city of Karachi used to produce world class players. At present, a Punjab club represents Pakistan hockey on world events.

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Zafar Ahmed

Jul 28, 2015 04:48pm

High time to say goodbye to Akhter Rasool & his team , they failed miserably to deliver and the hockey has changed a lot to a modern hockey. To me we need to hire foreign coaches & management team to run PHF. All the ex hockey players associated since their retirement are glued with federation for nothing but to get some money.

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Zafar Ahmed

Jul 28, 2015 04:55pm

Akhter Rasool you should resign by yourself and not wait to be asked for it !

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Arslan

Jul 28, 2015 05:23pm

Life is all about, to learn, unlearn and relearn. We need to move on from the shadow of our past glory and try to adopt new techniques. There should be no shame in hiring Foreign Coaches, Managers, Physical Trainers, Psychologists and much more. Yes, collective effort is required at all ends, but first we need to have a proper and comprehensive plan in place. We need to set a long term targets and approach it accordingly.

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Muhammad

Jul 28, 2015 05:46pm

This time for him to quit, he has brought hockey to this stage. His as head should take reposibility.

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Alnoor

Jul 28, 2015 05:57pm

Its been quite a disappointing to see that 5 times world champion is struggling in qualifying matches. Like cricket, there is no domestic base of hockey in Pakistan. In sporting nations like Australia, any game is first supported by their local crowd which participate in local matches. Such environment is completely non-existent in Pakistan for any sport. I wonder how Pakistan had managed to win 5 world cups without any domestic infrastructure. When sport at domestic level able to attract crowd it creates its own micro economy and support itself. Hockey in Pakistan need IPL kind of push to first popularize sport at domestic level which will then allow talent to prosper at international level.It needs strong leadership and man with vision and passion for Pakistan Hockey.

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M Jamal

Jul 28, 2015 05:59pm

Instead of resigning and taking the responsibilities of the defeats,he is asking for unity for continous corruption.

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Sohail Zaidi

Jul 28, 2015 07:45pm

let us follow accountability process, first you and whole body of PHF resigned, PM have no time to tell you, you have to take all charges that you lost and not qualified for future game. so your hockey is old fashion, let current retired players should take. Please resigned. also your captain Imran must go.

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nooru 52

Jul 28, 2015 09:31pm

Money is the main issue for Pakistan hockey.

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MJK

Jul 28, 2015 09:49pm

This dismal condition of hockey happened under the watch of Akhtar Rasool. Why is n't he accepting the responsibility ? He should resign, step aside, let someone else take the charge.

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RamRajah

Jul 29, 2015 01:23am

Indian and Pakistani hockey have no chance reclaiming glory days for at least 10/15yrs. Other countries are far ahead regarding training methods, fitness levels, diet and nutrition etc. Please watch black and white footage for memories of glory days.

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Desi

Jul 29, 2015 03:37am

Lets all unite and completely bankrupt PHF. Once everyone gets the money and there is nothing left, then all will resign

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Salim khan

Jul 29, 2015 08:29am

Yes hockey will improve without you. It is that simple.

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NASR

Jul 29, 2015 09:26am

The nation urges Akhtar Rasool to QUIT ASAP to help Pakistan to build a good team

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Akil Akhtar

Jul 29, 2015 10:22am

Hockey has changed from a skilled sport under india and Pakistan to a skill less but well drilled fitness based sport under the western teams....we cannot win until we are far better than the western teams if continuing with our style of hockey.

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syed wasim haider@hotmail.com

Jul 29, 2015 11:45am

@Kashif Yes, u are right; we still have lot of talents but we need selection on merit.At least the foreign coach can enforce the selectors to go for merit.

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