FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well as their rapidly diminishing status in the sport, there was one event that always had a place for the national team: the annual Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Not anymore. Pakistan has not received an invitation from the organisers for this year’s tournament. Instead, Malaysia will receive top-ranked sides including Belgium, Germany, India and Ireland — all among the world top 10 — during the November tournament. Naturally, the omission has led to an outcry in Pakistan. For the last several years, the Azlan Shah Cup had offered the country a window to the world, an opportunity to gauge where the team stood globally. Last year, when the Olympics were held in Paris — the third straight Games for which Pakistan failed to qualify — the team finished runners-up to Japan at the Azlan Shah Cup. In the tournament’s previous edition, in 2022, Pakistan had finished in third place. Alongside Pakistan, defending champions Japan have also not been invited this time.

But while Malaysia has already announced the line-up, Pakistan continues to hope. The Pakistan Hockey Federation has refuted claims that the national team was omitted because there were some outstanding dues it owed to its Malaysian counterpart. With former Olympians adding their voices to the debate, PHF secretary Rana Mujahid has asked the International Hockey Federation president to ensure Pakistan’s participation. However, Pakistan must accept the reality. The Azlan Shah Cup is Malaysia’s tournament, aimed at the best interests of its own team. Now it has some of the world’s top sides coming to play. The sooner Pakistan accepts this, the better. Instead, the PHF should focus on other opportunities to provide competition to the national team, while redirecting its efforts to improving its international standing. While an opportunity for exposure has been lost, the PHF should try and secure matches elsewhere.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025