LAHORE: Legendary hockey player Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, often hailed as the “Maradona of Hockey”, has delivered one of the most candid and sobering assessments of Pakistan’s national sport.
In a deeply insightful interview, the former captain and 1994 World Cup hero laid bare the systemic failures, budget mismanagement, and stark decline that have left hockey struggling to survive in a country where it was once the pride of the nation.
Shahbaz in a podcast interview began by reflecting on his personal journey. Growing up in Faisalabad, he was naturally gifted in multiple sports, excelling in cricket, football, and hockey before choosing hockey exclusively in the ninth grade.
His professional breakthrough came when he represented PIA in a junior championship in Karachi, where his talent was so evident that he was invited directly to the national training camp without trials. In a striking revelation, Shahbaz admitted that no coach ever taught him hockey or improved his fitness. His famous “Electric Heels” and “F16” speed, he insisted, were purely God-gifted reflexes and natural agility.
Turning to the crisis in Pakistan hockey, Shahbaz highlighted the devastating gap between the glory days and the present. He pointed to the financial disparity between cricket and hockey, noting that while cricketers become millionaires overnight, hockey players struggle for basic allowances and equipment. He criticized the Punjab Sports Board for spending billions—such as six billion rupees on activities—without producing even six world-class players.
Infrastructure failures, such as misplaced AstroTurf installations near brick kilns in Sheikhupura where no one plays, have wasted millions. At the most basic level, the federation often lacks funds for meals, travel tickets, or proper uniforms.
Recalling the Golden Era, Shahbaz described the 1994 World Cup victory as a blessing. He shared an emotional anecdote about teammate Tahir Zaman, whose father passed away during the tournament, but whose mother insisted he stay and win the cup for the country.
