ISLAMABAD: Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui and Hasan Sardar on Monday expressed confidence that Pakistan hockey could be put back on track within two years as the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) ad hoc committee held its first meeting here and unveiled what it termed a comprehensive reform agenda.

Speaking to Dawn after the meeting, Hasan Sardar said there was no dearth of raw talent in the country and that the focus would be on grassroots development.

“If all goes according to plan, our national team can return to the elite group of top six teams in the world within two years,” he said. “But this requires resources and proper patronage. We are hopeful that the interim committee will take every possible step for the revival of hockey.”

He said the committee comprised former greats and professionals committed to restoring the game’s past glory.

“With legends like Islahuddin Siddiqui and chief selector Samiullah Khan on board, we are determined to put hockey back on track,” he added.

Hasan and Islahuddin attended the meeting via Zoom, while other members were present in Islamabad.

During the session, Hasan reiterated his support for the reform agenda, stressing the need for professionalism and a high-performance culture. He pledged to supervise nationwide talent hunt initiatives, particularly skill-based identification of emerging players, participate in club scrutiny to ensure only genuine structures are recognised, and assist in the merit-based appointment of domestic and foreign coaches.

“Through honest governance, structured scouting and professional coaching appointments, we can reclaim our lost glory,” he said.

Islahuddin also backed the reform process, emphasising institutional restructuring and transparent governance. He assured the PHF ad hoc body, headed by president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, of his active involvement in strengthening the sport’s structural foundations, including supervision of the National Talent Hunt Programme at Under-14 and Under-16 levels.

He also committed to overseeing transparent scrutiny of hockey clubs to ensure fair future elections and assisting in the merit-based hiring of national coaches in line with international standards.

Both Olympians pledged to work without personal agendas and support institutionalised talent pathways from schools to the national level, strengthen domestic competitions and restore Pakistan’s competitive standing internationally.

The meeting authorised the three Olympians — Islahuddin, Hasan and Samiullah — to oversee the selection of an international coach and hold the team accountable to clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs), including achieving a top-10 ranking in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) standings within 24 months, securing an Asian Games medal and qualifying for the Olympics.

“We are entrusting the future of our national team to our most celebrated legends,” a PHF spokesperson said. “Their mandate is clear: to instill a culture of excellence and deliver results.”

According to the interim setup, the roadmap is built on three pillars: institutional integrity, a data-driven talent pipeline and professional federation management.

A 90-day roadmap has been approved for a transparent electoral process, beginning with rigorous club scrutiny and verification. An independent audit framework — involving legal experts, chartered accountants and sports governance specialists — will ensure participating clubs meet strict criteria for active membership and financial transparency.

The process will culminate in the public disclosure of verified voting units, paving the way for elections within six to nine months under neutral oversight. Talent development

The PHF also announced a nationwide talent hunt in collaboration with educational bodies.

In partnership with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) and the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), nationwide school-level trials will be conducted for Under-14 and Under-16 players, supported by a digital profiling system to track progress from district to national level.

At the university level, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will sponsor an inter-university championship, creating a pathway to the junior national team. Commercial and structural reforms

On the commercial front, the PHF said it had secu­red multi-year partnerships with corporate giants.

The agenda also includes upgrading playing facilities nationwide, including efforts to source reusable AstroTurf from Europe and Australia for underserved districts.

Revival of departmental hockey forms another component of the plan, with Pakistan Customs set to spearhead the framework by raising new teams in Karachi and Lahore and organising an annual inter-department championship.

To ensure players’ welfare, a partnership has been finalised with Shifa International Hospital to provide healthcare services to national teams. Professional structure

The PHF will be restructured into six professional divisions: human resource management, finance and audit, marketing and commercialisation, sports medicine and athlete welfare, high performance and coaching, and international liaison.

The new framework will operate on quarterly KPI reviews.

The committee also launched a phased 120-day action plan, beginning with foundation audits and club scrutiny, followed by talent mobilisation through agreements with educational bodies, engagement with commercial partners and shortlisting of an international coach.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026