ISLAMABAD: Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Ahmed Senior is expecting a good show from the national team in the upcoming Commonwealth Games with the side set to fly for Australia on Tuesday.

“Since the team has undergone training under newly appointed Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, I am hopeful there would be improved performance the mega event,” Shahbaz told Dawn on Monday.

Oltmans has been handed a two and a half year contract by the PFF.

Shahbaz believed the mixture of youth and experience in the national side will translate into good results too.

“I am not expecting miracle, but let me say this, in this event, there will be much difference in the team’s performance as compared to past few years,” the former captain said.

Following the Commonwealth Games, the team will feature in the Asian Games which are set to be held in Jakarta in September.

“For Asian Games, we are hopeful for gold or silver medals. The experience the team will gain from Commonwealth Games will be helpful for boys in the Asian Games,” he said. The Asian Games also play as a qualifying round for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“At the moment, we are world number 13th and we aim to be among the world’s top 10 sides at the end of this year,” Shahbaz said.

For the Commonwealth Games, Pakistan have been placed in Pool ‘B’ with India, England, Malaysia

and Wales. The Green Shirts face arch-rivals India on April 7.

The Mohammad Rizwan-led national hockey squad will depart from Karachi for the Games.

Shahbaz also said Oltmans has been assisting the federation to setup state of the art academies.

“We have planned to setup at least four academies in various part of the country. The first academy will be setup in Wah, within 90 days, then we will move to setup one academy each in Lahore and Karachi,” he said while adding that various places are under consideration for setting up a planned fourth academy.

He said Oltmans is also tasked to prepare four teams, under-16, under-18, development squad and the senior team.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2018