KARACHI: Former Olympian Samiullah is of the view that the game of hockey in Pakistan shows a bleak picture in the wake of the national team’s disastrous performance in the recently held Azlan Shah Cup.

Pakistan finished rock-bottom in the seven-nation contest held in the Malaysian city of Ipoh.

“Pakistan were playing against lower-ranked team’s in Ipoh so this was a very disappointing show,” Samiullah said on Monday.

“Since the current PHF management took over in 2010, they have never conducted personal assessments or analysis while also not learning from their mistakes.

“From the current team, we cannot expect any miracle at the London Olympics. What can we do in 30-35 days?

“If we want to revive the national sport, we should bring in non-controversial, non-political and credible people to the hockey administration.”

Another former Olympian Ayaz Mahmood said Pakistan hockey needed technocrats and not political appointees to run the game.

“The new blue astro-turf has been blamed for their dismal performance… This is a habit of the PHF to make such lame excuses for defeats,” he added.—APP