Pakistan Hockey Federation president Akhtar Rasool resigns

E-Paper | June 05, 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Akhtar Rasool stepped down from his post on Thursday, days after rejecting reports in the media that he was removed from office by the government following the hockey team's failure to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

The former center-half Rasool, who represented Pakistan at two Olympics and four World Cups, was elected unopposed as the president of the hockey federation in 2013.

Former Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui, Shahnaz Sheikh, Samiullah Khan along with others had termed the 2013PHF elections bogus but Rasool retained his position even as Pakistan's fortunes continued to dip.

Pakistan had secured eighth position in the qualifying event for the Olympics held in Belgium and as a result failed to qualify for the 2016 Games. It was the first time in the game's history that Pakistan missed out on a spot at the Olympics

After the debacle, the Inter-provincial ministry and the PHF had formed their separate committees to probe the performance.

Rasool's resignation came the same day as the PHF fact-finding committee submitted its report to the federation.

More to follow...

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Jamieson-inspired New Zealand dismiss England for 140 on first day

Pakistan turn down invitation to participate in Asian fencing event in India

Perfect pitch is the goal for World Cup grass growers

Simply Good

Aug 20, 2015 01:02pm

Why Akhtar WHyyyyy ?

Recommend 0

Aug 20, 2015 01:05pm

Why did u do that Akhter. This is not our tradition,regardless of our performance and outcome we used to stick to our positions,why u r changing our culture??

Recommend 0

Muhammad Iqbal

Aug 20, 2015 01:07pm

Why such delay. He should have resigned the same day, Pakistan Hockey was thrown out of Olympics for the first time. Perhaps he was waiting for some ship to rescue him.

Recommend 0

JAMIL

Aug 20, 2015 01:10pm

Thanks God Before selling the Kit of players. These are one who destroy hockey. where is Khalid Hameed, Anyone know where he is now.

Recommend 0

JAMIL

Aug 20, 2015 01:25pm

true

Recommend 0

M Jamal

Aug 20, 2015 01:31pm

A good day for Pakistan's hockey.End of nepotism.If my father is an hockey administrator I can have the Pakistan's cap without merit and after retirement I can become an hockey administrator and this pass on to my children.This is how hockey in Pakistan was ruined.

Recommend 0

Syed

Aug 20, 2015 02:10pm

Beginning of the end of Nepotism, corruption and pure in competence. I hope other officials follow suit and do good for the country.

Recommend 0

Anwar nabeel

Aug 20, 2015 02:14pm

Otherwise would have won olympics.at least spend something for power outage,so that i can look after my daughters studies.

Recommend 0

asif

Aug 20, 2015 02:42pm

Good riddance. It was due since ages, let those who can deliver and at the same time ask devoted sponsors to step in, support the game right from the grass root levels and let our national game flourish. I am confident we can stage a big comeback and be a formidable playing side. Let us start from a scratch, look for youngsters, groom them and invest in them. Let the old stalwarts sit on the side benches, watch and give expertise advice. Let the new blood take over the reins, it was due since long. Enough is enough. No more old faces please. We need foreign physical coaches, the rest of the hockey world is miles ahead in this regard. We need ruthless coaches and no more politicians. Let us revive late Nur Khan's time.

Recommend 0

M. Rizwan

Aug 20, 2015 02:48pm

This was long over due. He has systematically ruined hockey in Pakistan. He is not even ashamed of doing this!

Recommend 0

J.Niaz

Aug 20, 2015 02:58pm

This should have been done some time ago. He was not good for Pakistan Hockey.

Recommend 0

wajid

Aug 20, 2015 03:07pm

very good decision for Pakistani team to re back.

Recommend 0

Aug 20, 2015 03:16pm

Oh no! His job was nearly complete, he was a whisker away from finishing off Pakistan hockey forever. No doubt, the higher authorities will find someone suitable to complete the job!

Recommend 0

Ijaz Chaudhry

Aug 20, 2015 03:31pm

A great news for the whole nation. But Akhtar Rasool and his cronies have damaged Pakistan hockey to such an extent that it would be a herculean task for his successor to put it back on the right path. During Akhtar Rasool's tenure as the president of the PHF, Pakistan, this year, failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time. In 2013, Akhtar Rasool was the manager & head coach of the Pakistan team which failed to qualify for the World Cup, also for the first time.

Recommend 0

AJK

Aug 20, 2015 03:31pm

First Qasim Zia , now Akhtar Rasool both political appointees- obviously standard of field hockey was locked as a disaster.

Recommend 0

Asif

Aug 20, 2015 04:13pm

The present Army chief had promised at the time of our last disgraceful exit from the Olympic qualifying matches to take over the reins of hockey development in the country. Let Dawn play its due role and remind the Chief to take over. The malaise is so unmanageable it can not be put right by these greedy and incompetent so called old stalwarts. We must make efforts to revive this game. Let big names like Leading industrial tycoons own various teams, sponsor them and spend lavishly on the improvement of the infrastructure of the hockey. Induct private companies to run the show, let PHF be sidelined. We need drastic changes for its reemergence on the national level. Now is the time, cannot afford to loose more time, the west is brining drastic changes and modifying playing strategies suiting their styles and temperament. We must act fast so that Asian style hockey is not buried for ever. We are already far too behind.

Recommend 0

علي رضا

Aug 20, 2015 04:38pm

Curse on him for destroying Pakistan National game.

Recommend 0

Amir Mahmood

Aug 20, 2015 05:03pm

It is okay to resign or fired Mr. Akhtar Rasool, obviously you tried your level best but it didn't work out. Thank you for your help, we have few more experts it is their turn now.

Recommend 0

Ailly

Aug 20, 2015 05:21pm

Thanks God.

Recommend 0

dawn

Aug 20, 2015 06:36pm

He should take the other 11 with him!

Recommend 0

Faisal

Aug 20, 2015 07:25pm

Finally

Recommend 0

Naseer

Aug 20, 2015 07:46pm

What's the use now , when the whole nation saw hockey funeral

Recommend 0

zak

Aug 20, 2015 09:01pm

Most poorly run outfit financially and politically.

Recommend 0

Altaf Noor Ali

Aug 20, 2015 09:05pm

Thank you, Sir! This country will be in your debt forever. Our next step should be to kick the whole hockey team out!

Recommend 0

miristan

Aug 20, 2015 09:06pm

Good residence,thanks God he realised. Let us start with anew beginning. Pakistan Zindabad.

Recommend 0

Thechange

Aug 20, 2015 09:40pm

We will soon see him as adviser to PM on sports.

Recommend 0

asif

Aug 20, 2015 10:03pm

We must respect a legend of his time the Akhtar Rasul. Hockey vs Cricket the decline is undetstandable. Govt to make the weak deptt.more lucrative. Hockey within years survive. Youth is jobless.

Recommend 0