The voice on the other end of the line is calm, measured, and unmistakably that of a leader who has learned to carry weight without buckling under it.

Amad Shakeel Butt, captain of the Pakistan national field hockey team, had just finished a morning training session at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. The air was hot, the turPf is demanding, and the expectations of a hockey-crazy nation rest squarely on his shoulders.

Since taking over the captaincy in 2024, Amad has become more than just a midfielder in green. He has become a symbol of Pakistan hockey’s slow, stubborn climb back toward relevance. With over 178 international caps and 15 goals to his name, he is neither the flashiest player on the pitch nor the loudest in the dressing room. But ask anyone who has played alongside him, and they will tell you the same thing: when Amad speaks, people listen.

Excerpts from an exclusive interview with Pakistan’s hockey captain:

Q: You’ve been part of Pakistan hockey for over a decade now. Take us back to the beginning — when did you know you belonged at this level?

Amad: “The 2013 Asian Champions Trophy in Japan. That was the moment. We won gold, and I was young, hungry, and playing alongside players I had only ever watched on television. When the final whistle blew, I remember thinking, ‘This is where I am meant to be.’ That tournament gave me belief. It wasn’t just a medal — it was proof that I could compete with the best in Asia.”

Q: You’ve played in silver medal campaigns at the 2014 Asian Games and the FIH Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar. Close, but not gold. Do those near-misses haunt you?

Amad: “Haunt? No. Fuel? Yes. There is a difference between losing and learning. In 2014, we were a good team. But good is not enough when you want to stand with the giants of this sport — the Dutch, the Australians, the Germans. Those losses taught us that talent alone wins nothing. You need structure, discipline, and mental strength. Those lessons are now part of our DNA.”

Q: Let’s talk about leadership. You were appointed captain in 2024. What does that armband mean to you?

Amad: “It means responsibility — not privilege. When you wear the captain’s armband for Pakistan, you are not just leading eleven players. You are leading millions of fans, former legends who built this sport, and young children who dream of wearing green one day. I think about Dhyan Chand. I think about Shahbaz Ahmed. I think about all the giants who came before me. My job is to make sure their legacy was not in vain.”

Q: Under your captaincy, Pakistan has won silver at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (2024), bronze at the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, and most recently silver at the FIH Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur (2025) — which earned promotion to the FIH Pro League. How do you assess that journey?

Amad: “Progress. That is the word I would use. We are not where we want to be yet, but we are no longer where we used to be. The Nations Cup result was especially important because the Pro League is where the giants play. That is our stage now. We have earned the right to compete against the best in the world regularly. That is not the finish line — it is the starting line for a new chapter in Pakistan hockey.”

Q: You received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2025. What did that recognition mean to you personally?

Amad: “It was humbling. In Pakistan, we do not always honour our athletes the way we should. So when the state recognises your service, it feels like a validation of every early morning, every injury, every sacrifice. But I will say this honestly: the medal I want most is not around my neck. It is a gold medal for Pakistan at a major tournament. That is the one I am still chasing.”

Q: You mentioned giants earlier. Let me ask you directly — can Pakistan hockey once again stand among the world’s giants?

Amad: “Yes. But only if we are honest with ourselves. We cannot live on history alone. Our eight Olympic gold medals are glorious, but they belong to the past. The present and future must be built with hard work, modern coaching, fitness, and belief. I have seen young players coming through the ranks who are fearless and skilful. If we support them, if we give them the right environment, Pakistan can absolutely stand with the Netherlands, Australia, and Germany again. I believe that with my whole heart.”

Q: There was a difficult moment in your career — the incident against Malaysia at the 2018 World Cup. How did that change you?

Amad: “It changed everything. I will not make excuses for what happened. I lost my composure. I let my emotions get the better of me. After that, I sat with myself and asked hard questions. What kind of player do I want to be? What kind of leader? That incident forced me to grow up. It made me more disciplined, more focused, and more aware that on the international stage, every action matters. I am not the same player I was in 2018. I am better — not just in skill, but in character.”

Q: What do you say to young hockey players in Pakistan who dream of following your path?

Amad: “I say: dream big, but work harder than your dream. There will be days when you are tired, when you feel ignored, when the system fails you. Do not stop. Do not quit. Pakistan hockey needs you. And one day, if you work hard enough, you will look around and realise that you have become a pillar — not because you wanted to be, but because you refused to fall.”

Q: Final question, captain. What is the one message you want to leave with Pakistan hockey fans today?

Amad: “Do not give up on us. We have let you down in the past, I know. But this team is different. We are hungry. We are united. And we are ready to stand with the giants again. Give us your support, your voice, your belief. We will give you everything we have on that turf. I promise you that.”

As the interview ended, Amad Shakeel Butt gathers his gear and walks back toward the pitch. He is not a giant yet — not in the way the Dutch or Australians are. But if resilience, leadership, and quiet determination count for anything, Pakistan may just have found the right man to lead them back into the company of hockey’s immortals.