ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hockey is set for a major overhaul as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has decided in principle to hand over the national team’s affairs to a new panel of renowned foreign coaches and specialists, replacing the long-standing reliance on local coaching staff in a bid to revive the country’s fortunes on the international stage.
Highly-placed sources confirmed to The News that the federation has finalised agreements with internationally acclaimed coaches, physical conditioning experts, sports psychologists and neuroscientists to prepare both the senior and junior national teams for the challenges ahead. The ambitious move is part of the PHF’s long-term strategy to rebuild Pakistan hockey, with the immediate objective of winning the Asian Games gold medal in September and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
According to sources, the federation believes that modern hockey demands scientific training methods, cutting-edge tactical planning and mental conditioning, areas where Pakistan has lagged behind leading hockey nations in recent years.
“The PHF has virtually completed arrangements with foreign coaches for both the senior and junior teams, along with highly qualified physical trainers, sports psychologists and neuroscientists. The objective is to completely modernise Pakistan hockey and ensure that players receive training comparable to the world’s leading teams,” a senior official told The News.
The source added that while a World Cup triumph remains a difficult proposition due to the limited preparation time available, the federation is placing greater emphasis on the Asian Games.
“The coaches will have less than a month to prepare the squad for the World Cup, making it difficult to produce immediate miracles. However, the primary target is the Asian Games. Winning that title would earn Pakistan direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics, and every effort is being directed towards achieving that objective.”
The federation has been quietly pursuing the project for the past several months, holding extensive negotiations with internationally respected coaches and support staff before finally reaching agreements.
“Our discussions with these experts did not begin overnight. We have been working on this plan for nearly three months. After detailed negotiations, agreements have now been reached with the coaching staff and specialists required to reshape Pakistan hockey.”
The new foreign coaching panel is expected to start arriving in Pakistan within the next two weeks, although some members may only join the national team shortly before the FIH Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in August.
Sources revealed that the incoming coaches possess extensive international experience and have previously worked with some of the world’s top-ranked hockey teams. “The federation wanted coaches who understand modern hockey, possess up-to-date tactical knowledge and have proven success at the highest level. The same criteria have been followed while selecting fitness trainers and other technical experts.”
Besides improving technical skills, special emphasis will be placed on strengthening the players’ physical conditioning, mental resilience and decision-making abilities under pressure areas considered vital for competing against the world’s elite teams.
Meanwhile, the federation has also begun reviewing the leadership role of national captain Hammad Butt following Pakistan’s disappointing performances during the final three legs of the FIH Pro League.
A two-member committee has been tasked with evaluating the skipper’s leadership qualities, commitment and overall contribution to the team’s performances. “The committee is examining whether Hammad Butt fulfilled his responsibilities as captain or remained primarily focused on his individual game.
The sweeping changes underline the PHF’s determination to usher in a new era for Pakistan hockey after years of inconsistent performances, with officials hoping that the arrival of internationally renowned experts will lay the foundation for a sustained revival of the country’s once-glorious hockey legacy.
