ISLAMABAD: Every now and then, a new drama unfolds in Pakistan hockey. But what happened during the national team’s World Cup opener against England in the Netherlands was more than an embarrassing mistake, it was a disturbing reminder of the lack of discipline, organisation and professionalism that continues to haunt the country’s once-mighty hockey programme.
Pakistan’s 4-1 defeat to England was disappointing enough, but the bigger embarrassment came during the match when the team failed to have the required penalty-corner protective equipment ready. A player had to rush to fetch the gear from the dressing room, while captain Abu Bakar Mahmood was shown a green card and forced to spend two minutes on the sidelines. The incident has since attracted widespread attention and criticism, particularly over the level of preparation and organisation within the Pakistan camp.
As usual, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and the foreign coaching staff appeared keen to play down the incident rather than acknowledge the seriousness of the lapse. That attitude is perhaps more worrying than the mistake itself.
Getting beaten fair and square by England is one thing. Losing because the opposition was tactically better, physically stronger or simply more clinical is part of sport. But failing to observe the basic requirements of international hockey at the biggest stage raises an entirely different set of questions.
What kind of preparation has Pakistan undertaken for the World Cup if the team cannot even ensure that essential protective equipment is in place when required?To a casual observer, forgetting penalty-corner protection may appear to be a small administrative error. At international level, however, such mistakes expose the quality of a team’s organisation and attention to detail. Preparation for a World Cup is not limited to fitness sessions, practice matches and tactical drills. It also means discipline, planning, responsibility and ensuring that every small requirement is taken care of before stepping onto the field.
The incident becomes even more troubling when the response is to make excuses or treat it lightly. The World Cup is not the place for such negligence. Pakistan returned to the world’s biggest hockey stage after missing the 2023 edition, and the occasion demanded the highest level of professionalism.
Sadly, the same old questions surrounding Pakistan hockey have followed the team to the Netherlands. For years, we have been told that foreign coaches are the answer to Pakistan hockey’s problems. There is nothing inherently wrong with hiring foreign expertise. In fact, Pakistan badly needs high-quality international coaching. But there is a huge difference between appointing a genuinely accomplished international coach and simply bringing in someone from abroad.
Pakistan does have capable players, support staff and physical trainers. What has been missing for years is the coaching brain capable of making a meaningful difference at the highest level.
Saturday’s performance against England was one of the most disappointing exhibitions of hockey from the Green Shirts in recent years. The players repeatedly appeared disconnected when in possession, often moving in isolation rather than as a coordinated unit. There was little imagination in attack and precious little understanding of how to create gaps and penetrate the English defence.
The forwards struggled to find space, the midfield failed to provide sustained support and Pakistan appeared to lack a clear plan whenever England tightened their defensive structure.
