The year 2015 will go down in history as one of the darkest chapters of Pakistan hockey. Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the Olympics 2016 for the first time in Pakistan history marked a calamitous new low. It was lamentable that a country that won Olympic gold thrice, World Cup four times, Asia Cup thrice, Asian Games gold record eight times, Asian Champions Trophy gold twice, FIH Champions Trophy gold thrice and remained unbeatable at regional level for many years emerged as a lowly team in 2015. Pakistan finished eighth (at bottom) in the Olympics qualifying round in Antwerp, Belgium. That was the sum of our ‘achievements’ in a sport in which once we were the top dogs in the world. Throughout the year the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was unable to give maximum international exposure and facilities to senior as well as junior players. Pakistan were denied an opportunity to compete against the European teams because of a weak financial position of the national federation. The PHF, led by former Olympians Chaudhary Akhtar Rasool and Rana Mujahid Ali, continued in its struggle to get the federal government funds for smooth functioning of the national federation but in vain.
What more disturbing was that the crippling financial state of the sport struck a killer blow to the country’s national game. It was very unfortunate that the PHF had to beg private parties to fund the national team’s foreign tours. The government, whose priority has never been sports, had hardly budged when the PHF repeatedly pleaded for financial support to ensure participation at the Olympic qualifiers in Belgium. But after the debacle the government became ‘fully aroused’ to probe the disaster and remove the ‘undesirable officials’ of Pakistan hockey. And that was nothing but a sham in this ‘land of the pure’ to hoodwink people. Putting the entire blame of the Antwerp debacle on PHF president Akhtar Rasool and secretary general Rana Mujahid, the duo were shown the door in a humiliating way by the PHF patron, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Former Olympian Shahbaz Ahmad Senior and a former manager of the national hockey team, Brig (r) Muhammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, the cronies of the federal government, took over the reins of the PHF as secretary general and president, respectively.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia: The year started with Pakistan not participating in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia due to lack of funds. After that Pakistan were not able undertake any tour to Europe, and that too, because of financial constraints. However, the Pakistan Sports Board and the Punjab government helped the PHF to send the national squad to Australia, South Korea and for the Olympics qualifiers.
Four-Nation Hobart International Challenge in Australia: Mohammad Imran led Pakistan in a four-nation tournament held in Hobart, Australia from May 2 to 10. Pakistan could only register wins against South Korea and New Zealand and were beaten black and blue by Australia and Australia A teams. The greenshirts lost their last match of the Hobart International Challenge against Australia 5-0 at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre. Pakistan won only two matches out of their six on the tour. The team stood second out of four nations – Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Drawn Test series in South Korea: After the Australian tour, Pakistan played a three-match Test series against South Korea in Incheon, South Korea. Like Hobart International Challenge Down Under, the Korean tour was part of the Pakistan’s preparatory programme for the Olympic qualification round in Belgium. Pakistan won the first match, the second was won by the hosts and the third ended in a draw.
Debacle at World Hockey League in Antwerp, Belgium: Once a powerhouse of the sport, Pakistan gave pathetic performance in the Hockey World League, the qualifiers for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2016, in Antwerp and ended at bottom. The greenshirts’ below par show in Belgium shattered hopes and dreams of their 180 million countrymen. Pakistan struggled in their 2-1 victory against Poland in the opening match, suffered 6-1 defeat at the hands of the formidable Australia besides sharing points with India and France by playing two draws in the Pool A. In the quarterfinal, they were outplayed by Britain 2-1. Worst came in the classification matches. Pakistan were first shocked by lowly ranked Ireland 1-0 in a match for 5th-8th positions and later France stunned them 2-1 in a classification match for 7th-8th positions.
The Hockey World League was the last chance for Pakistan to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, after losing the Asian Games final to India in Incheon, South Korea in 2014. Pakistan needed to finish at least in the fifth spot in Antwerp to have any hopes of getting a ticket to 2016 Summer Games in the Brazilian capital. Pakistan also failed to qualify for the World Cup 2014 for the first time in the history of the event which they have won more times than any other country. Pakistan hockey also remained absent from Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, held in July-August 2014, after the PHF failed to enter the event by the deadline because of an internal dispute of the National Olympic Committee of Pakistan. The formation of a parallel Pakistan Olympic Association and the PHF supporting it meant the greenshirts missed the chance to compete at Glasgow 2014.
The ignominious ouster in Antwerp had both critics and fans up in arms as they demanded a thorough inquiry into the debacle and a complete overhaul of the national game and the PHF. The Olympic failure prompted the government to form a committee to probe the causes of the national side’s poor show in Belgium. The probe committee was formed by the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry on the instruction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Sharif said that the team’s performance at 2016 Rio Olympics qualifiers was embarrassing. He sought explanation from the PHF officials and the sports ministry and questioned why the team had performed so poorly. The probe committee put the entire blame on the PHF and recommended sacking of top officials.
PHF president Akhtar resigns: In August, PHF president Akhtar Rasool was ‘pushed’ to resign from his post to fulfill the ‘common desire’ of Prime Minister Sharif, the Inter Provincial Coordination Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board. Khalid was named as new chief of the national hockey federation. Khalid, a former manager of the Pakistan hockey team, was working as managing director at the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC). It was interesting to note that Khalid wanted to become the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president but when Salim Saifullah took control of Pakistan tennis he turned his ‘interest’ towards Pakistan hockey. Khalid, a close relative of federal minister Ahsan Iqbal, was trying his level best to become the PHF president the day he came to know the crisis in the PHF, and his efforts bore fruit.
Hockey head coach Shahnaz Sheikh quits: Right after resignation of PHF chief Akhtar Rasool, head coach Shahnaz Sheikh also resigned from his post. The resignation came during a PHF Congress meeting which was called to give vote of confidence to Prime Minister Sharif’s nominee Khalid as new president of the national federation. The Congress unanimously endorsed Khalid as the new PHF chief. It was also decided in the meeting that PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid would maintain his position till 2018. Shahnaz said he had no pressure to resign. “I resigned for the betterment of hockey. I had taken over the national hockey team at a difficult time.”
Controversial Shahbaz becomes PHF secretary: In September, there was another nail in the coffin of Pakistan hockey when controversial former captain and Olympian Shahbaz became the PHF secretary general. Shahbaz replaced Rana Mujahid who resigned from the coveted post after two years in office. Even after being given a three-year extension by the PHF Congress, Rana Mujahid’s resignation was not a surprise after the probe committee constituted by Prime Minister Sharif held the top PHF officials responsible for the national team’s dismal performance at the Hockey World League in Antwerp. Rana Mujahid’s days were numbered the day Akhtar Rasool resigned. The appointment of the new PHF secretary general was announced at a sham press conference by PHF chief Khalid in Islamabad. Living in a fool’s paradise, Rana Mujahid was hoping that new PHF president Khalid would work with him. But he soon realised that his ‘services were no longer required’. Khalid and his cronies gave a clear message to Rana Mujahid that they wanted their own man at the post of secretary general. And Rana Mujahid had no choice. It was wiser for him if he had resigned with his president Akhtar Rasool. But he made himself a laughing stock.
Pakistan’s ouster from the Olympics 2016 actually paved the way for those wanting to remove Rana Mujahid and Akhtar Rasool. Now with the fulfilment of these disgruntled elements’ desire, including that of Prime Minister Sharif, the PHF got the required budget and financial support which the government was not willing to provide for the last two years to Akhtar Rasool and Rana Mujahid. Since completing his overseas posting with the PIA, Shahbaz, like his ambitious president, was also trying his level best to get hold of the PHF’s prized post. And Pakistan is a paradise for persons with ‘right connections’.
Winless Pakistan juniors finish last in Johor Cup: The newly installed PHF received its first set-back when the national junior team finished at bottom in the six-nation 5th Sultan of Johor Cup played in