Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: Chairman, National Selection Committee (NSC) of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), and former hockey legend Samiullah Khan hoped that Pakistan national hockey team would produce acceptable results in the forthcoming FIH Men’s World Cup Hockey Tournament, which would be rolled into action next month from August 15, 2026 in two European nations, Belgium and Netherlands simultaneously.
While talking to Editor www.sports-bulletin.com Abdul Jabbar Faisal here at Nasser Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Thursday, he further said, “We have around one month for mage hockey showpiece of the world and foreign coaches are working with the team. Boys are improving the game day by day. England, India and Wales are in our group and we will have to win at least two matches to reach in quarterfinals. Players have the abilities to overcome heavy weights India and England. Despite of facing defeats against both countries recently in FIH Pro-League we can beat high ranked hockey nations because Green Shirts lost first match against India and England by a close margin. After removing the flaws we can challenge traditional foes India in the world cup match, “he elaborated.
To a question, he said that Pakistan should reach in top-8 in the world ranking of International Hockey Federation (FIH) and PHF started a long term plan to achieve the targets. “When we will be in the top eight team of world then we will be able to claim upset victories in the upcoming international fixtures. We can move ahead step by step and we should focus on the all the aspects. There is need to promote the hockey at the grass-root level and incentives must be given to players to attract them toward national game hockey. We do not have enough nursery of hockey at lower level. Government support and sponsorship is essential to uplift the standard of game in the country, “he added.
A question regarding hiring the services of overseas hockey coaches, Samiullah said, “I am personally not in the favour of foreign mentors and I thing we need physical trainer because the guys are lacking in stamina and fitness, which is very important and basic aspect. However, I saw here the players are toiling hard under the foreign coaches and coaches are also doing smart work with the lads this is good and positive sign for our hockey. It seems that coaches are doing a good and appreciate able job. I hope they will establish a good combination before the hockey world cup 2026. PHF hired three persons, one head coach, one goalkeeper coach and one trainer from different countries, “he said.
“Unfortunately, no one knows the name of national hockey players and I was also not aware the names of national players before taking the new honourary responsibilities and I got the data and information about these guy. To raise the stander of hockey, PHF and all other stake holder will have to focus on basic issues and needs of players, including financial, diet, training and other incentives. We need to take the tangible steps and to form a long term strategy to reach on the top in world hockey again. We have tremendous hockey talent in the country and there is need to bring up and polish that and to stream line the hockey affairs, “former captain of national hockey team, legend Samiullah Khan concluded.
