By Shahnaz Sheikh (Former Olympian)

The brutal truth Pakistan Hockey conceded 79 against 22 goals scored in recently- concluded Pro-league 2026. This is not bad luck but a broken system.

After the invention of synthetic turf and fiber equipment and no man off side/self pass rules the flow of the game has been electrified as hockey game has become one of the fast outdoor sports in the world.

So the speed of thought must be As good As the speed of game. Therefore saying that playing is an important but to guide and drive is equally important because team is

a unit/binding force for the better player/individual the Better team. The better player can create/carry/conclude opportunity. So to understand this Better [understanding] of these qualities must be understood as a team.

Pro-league 2026
(Unknown fact)

In 1971/72 we dribbled 10 times beat 3 men, then Secord, today the ball moves faster than player. The dynamic has been changed as saying on grass ball followed the player but in modern hockey player follows the ball because fastness of the game. So dribbling and travelling with mall must have system where and when to apply this method.

Layman Experience: Belgium passes the ball 3 times and enters in the circle, we hold the Ball, 3 opponents surround us, and we lose possession of the ball which causes and lead to counter attack by opponents and the ratio of goals Pakistan conceded about 45% goals.

Result: 40% of their goals come from our turnover in our own half.

Layman experience: The comparison study between Pakistan and European player. The European runs non-stop for 60 minutes and live till last while Pakistan player runs 40 minutes with heavy leg and most of the goals conceded in the dying minutes, the European passes in one second with pre scanning with the three options whereas Pakistan players hold the ball for 5 seconds and look for a man for job. In drag flicks for PC they take at 120 km kilometre in 0.8 seconds where Pakistani takes at 95 km with 1.2 seconds. They recover with Icepack, massage, diet plan

and ready to perform with the same zeal and zest for back to back match whereas Pakistan place only massage for back to back match is a very difficult to Survive and sustain and loss the match with the big margin.

The gap between skills versus system: Pakistan still have skill but the opponent built a machine around skill that is why their possession and retention of the ball very high compared to the Pakistan.

NIGHTMARE: Now coming on the Performances of Pakistan team in Pro-league 2026 which was the 7th edition and Pakistan team had an opportunity to play first time in this elite tournament with. The blessing and courtesy of New Zealand who had qualified this Pro-league being a champions in last 8-nation tournament 2025 the mechanism [regulation/organisation] of this pro-league that most bottom team/last in league relegated and replaced by champion team of 8-nation tournament which is a second tier tournament. Pakistan team, being a most-bottom, was relegated and for the next Pro-league 2027 the French team would replace being champions of 8- nation event.

The most incentive of pro league is that champion automatically qualified for Olympic Games L.A 2028.

79 against 22 goals scored, This is not bad luck but broken system .From 1971-72 to Oman 2024 we lost with emotion. In Pro League 2026 we lost because we came with 1970 hockey to a 2026 game.

The world has changed to play dynamic hockey with system, but we have still stuck on static hockey, which means to wait for ball. But ball never comes for possession.

Why we lost – 5 simple
reasons.

1. We played with 11 individual players; they played with a system. Think like Bel/Aus, like a T20 team with a fixed batting order, field plan and data analyst. Pakistan still plays street hockey: Give ball/pass to the best player and hopes for the best.

Result: They knew where to run before the ball comes, whereas our player thinks to run after the ball. Goal conceded in the last 10-15 minutes because our legs and brain are finished.

What happened? Against India in second match when they scored/ won by 7-1 although it was their back to back match. Team should study that match to understand the comparison between skill/system.

Especially in the first quarter and then all three quarters. I leave it to team management to revisit that match to understand variation of match planning with in a match.

2. Our players ran 2.5 km less in every match, in Modern Hockey is 60 minutes of sprinting, GPS data shows our boys ran 8.2 km per match whereas Bell/Aus ran 10.8 km.

Layman rxperience: It is like running a 10 klm race but you start 2.5 km behind. You cannot win.

Result: Tecnically we died in the 4th quarter in every single match. We need dynamic system / fitness plan like rolling substitution / mechanism of 9 and 11 pattern of play to sustain till dying minute.

3. We scored only 8 out of 52 PCs = 15%. We gave away 28 out of 61 PCs = 46% Layman Experience: - in cricket they have 6 different Yorker balls. We bowl only one. They studied the game in few min.

Result: - our PC became their goal.

4. We still play 1971 hockey in 2026.

5. Australian technical manpower vs. Pakistan (off the field). 1. Australian travels with 7 experts for 18 players.

2. Fitness coach / Doctor / Data man, Video man, Psychologist, PC coach and Head coach.

Pakistan player vs European player: The European ran non-stop for 60 mines and alive till last whereas Pakistani runs 40 mines then legs and brain look finished.

The new Pakistan Model 2026: Pakistan

Q1: (0-15 mines). Formation {3-2-3-2}. Pakitan zonal play + bird eyes + German power play.

PLAN: Play semi-half, press like diamond shape in mid centre, early 5 minutes are very important to sustain the high speed pressure attack, early concede goal, mental torture for Pakistan. So only organised attack if permitted otherwise stay and beef up mid center by playing 9 and 11 game, 0 conceded goal, no hero dribbling only 2-3 touch enter in the circle. Three players run and press the moment when we lose the ball, win it back in 5 seconds. Attack from the right side cut the ball toward the base line with ‘hosh and josh’.

Plan: Stop running everywhere. Stand in your zone. Pass the ball. 1-2 touch play, stop hero dribbling. If leading controls a game, otherwise trailing don’t panic. Block the mid with {3-4-3} and keep the possession 55% and retention of the ball with trio zonal play, pass accuracy 80%

Q3 (30- 45 minutes).

Baseline attack: Plan: Take the ball to the end line from RHS. Cut it back to 5 meters from base line. This is where 60% of modern hockey goals come from. Because European overloaded the goal mouth and second goal post deflection.

In defence RB; LB cannot be beaten outside as goalkeeper shout for guideline.

Target: Force PC. Q4 (45 - 60 minutes. German power play- kill or survive): Last 5 minutes war.

Most of the goals conceded by Pakistan in last dying minutes. If leading GK stays for 3-2 -3 -2 formation only counter attack allowed. Keep the maximum retention and possession of the ball to create hole in opponent defense. This is important before initiating 1+1 OR Trio attack preferably from right side.

Half time-Show only three clips of video for 90 second no shouting only facts and plan.

New selection system: No fitness as per GPS, NO green shirt. If player cannot run 9.5 km in a match, he cannot be selected.

P/C Revolution: 6 different PC options, target 40% goal. Need to improve on war footing.

Number 1: how to get possession and retention of the ball.

Number 2: Handling of the ball especially in circle on both attack and defense.

Number 3; Improvement off the ball movement within a zone and turnover.

Number 4; Avoid bad ball watching specially in circle while defending at goal mouth.

Number 5; we have a team, not a systems.

Shahnaz Sheikh’s method for sustainability till dying minutes.

2. Mechanism of rolling substitution.

3. The ball should travel more than the player.

4. Play 1+1 and avoid 1x 1 playing tiers.

5. Every receiving ball does not lead to immediate self-attack, to break opponent break defense through organized attack.

Final word to nation/PHF: In 1972, we were banned because we had emotions, but no proof.In Pro League 2026, we lost because we had skills but no system.

Los-Angeles, 2028, we will win because we will have skills/ system + data.

This 79/22 goal is our shame, let it be our fuel.

The World Cup is a brain child of Pakistan’s Air Msrahal Nur Khan and Brig Atif who were the pioneers to initiate it in 1969-70. The first World Cup was held in Spain 1971 and won by Pakistan. I am proud of that I have played 3 World Cups and won 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal. The Pakistan hockey team have the record by winning 4 World Cups.

[email protected]