LAHORE: While admitting that the failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup is a major setback for the country, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa on Thursday said the PHF would continue to back the team comprising emerging players.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan lost 3-2 to Japan in their last Asia Cup pool match in Jakarta, and as a result failed to reach the Super 4 stage which was mandatory to qualify for the World Cup.

By reaching the Super 4 stage, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia have sealed the World Cup berths. India qualify for the global showpiece as hosts.

“Yes, it is a big upset because the team played well [in the Asia Cup] and showed improvement on every day. But unfortunately the last day of the pool matches was not our day as we lost by a slim margin and India also defeated Indonesia 16-0 to qualify for the last four,” Bajwa told Dawn.

The present PHF regime, Bajwa claimed, tried had its best to lift Pakistan hockey by taking several measures under tough circumstances.

“Despite having meagre financial resources, the PHF has been trying to facilitate the players. We offered central contracts to the players, brought coaches from Australia and now hired a Dutch coach. Moreover, after several years the boys undertook a tour to Europe.

“We also organised long training camps for the boys who have shown improvement. I strongly hope Pakistan will qualify for the next Olympics Games as well as for the FIH Pro-league,” the PHF secretary emphasised.

‘A SERIOUS CONCERN’

Meanwhile, hockey legend Samiullah Khan expressed his regret over former four-time World Cup winners Pakistan missing out on the global event.

“I think Pakistan’s performance in the Asia Cup was not that bad but they should have qualified for the World Cup; failure to reach the global event is not good for our hockey,” Samiullah told Dawn on Thursday.

“This is a serious concern because Pakistan, once a giant force in world hockey, could not qualify [for the World Cup] even after the Asian quota was increased to four teams from this region as a result of the decisions made by the International Hockey FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation,” Samiullah, known as Flying Horse, due to his fast pace on hockey field, said.

Samiullah reckoned Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, keeping in view no success achieved during his regime, should resign.

“Khalid Sajjad Khokhar has remained at the PHF helm for the last six years with no success to his credit. Therefore, it will better if he quits and the government brings in a suitable replacement, having the ability to get sponsorships and put the system on the right track,” he stated.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2022