An old Chinese saying goes like this: “It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backwards”.
To make a system progress, small steps, meticulous planning and careful monitoring are the key measures. Pakistan Hockey Federation’s new setup under Mohyuddin Wani has launched a six-team league which is seen as the right step in the right direction.
Since Mr Wani took over, he has shown real determination to lift the standard and in turn, revive the glory of Pakistan hockey. He has formed a good team with flying horse Samiullah as selector and caretaker, Islahuddin and Hasan Sardar as a back-up. You need to have a good team to achieve that sea-change required to regain the lost glory.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has taken some good steps to make gradual progress. Giving players the right kind of confidence, comfortable stay and remuneration — though players still need some regular payments on a monthly basis and cannot live long on just daily allowances.
There is also a valid saying which goes like, “Do as the Romans do,” which can be altered for hockey to say, “Do as the Europeans do.” The European nations like the Netherlands, Germany, etc have established the pathway to international hockey through their leagues.
These leagues not only develop local talent but also recruit talent from across the hockey nations to mature their players adroitly. Most of the Pakistani players have not only benefited monetarily but also established themselves in these leagues.
Pakistan players have been thriving in leagues around the world. World record goalscorer Sohail Abbas has been the cynosure of the league in the Netherlands since 1999 and has matured his skills of converting penalty corners into goals. The recent players are also honing their skills in European Leagues.
Former skipper Ammad Butt is currently playing in the German League for Bremer Hockey Club. These eight matches will benefit him a world of good. The new skipper Abu Bakar will participate in “Hockey 1 League -Australia” and will play for Melbourne Cobras for 7 matches until the first week of November.
Sufiyan Khan, Hannan Shahid Rana Waheed will play for the Terengganu Hockey Team in the TNB Cup Malaysia 2026 from the last week of November to the first week of December 2026. Sufyan will also feature for De Nantes Hockey Club, France, for six matches. Rana Waheed has been hired by TSV Mannheim, Germany, for eight matches.
Without a doubt, these opportunities are a positive sign of Pakistan hockey’s resurgence and the growing recognition of our players internationally.
Now, a home league will help our players improve by leaps and bounds. Just take into account the enormous lift the Indian League has given to their team and players. The exposure at the international FIH Pro League and the competitive exposure of domestic structures like the Hockey India League have helped India rise a great deal.
Experts believe strong European legs in Rotterdam and London shifted India’s style from relying heavily on penalty-corner conversions to creating and converting chances from open-play field goals. The revival of the franchise-backed Hockey India League (HIL) with multi-year broadcast and corporate backing has expanded the talent pipeline and financial sustainability for both men’s and women’s hockey.
The PHF did launch a League in 2005 in Karachi which featured six provincial and regional teams, but it failed to gain long-term momentum or establish a sustainable professional model. There were financial constraints as well as a lack of proper management.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation was unstable as political appointments — always a bane of Pakistan sports, primarily cricket and hockey — stunted the cause. The then Pakistan Hockey Federation also failed to secure government or regional clearances, resulting in the project being shut down before it could take off.
So the new setup of the PHF must have done their homework well in advance and must have considered the pros and cons and the reasons why the earlier management failed. The six-team Pakistan Hockey League in Lahore in March next year and is rightly aimed at strengthening the sport. The League will definitely add to the improvement shown by the national team in recent competitions.
The basic question remains whether the Pakistan Hockey Federation is able to attract corporate investment or not. Some good sponsorships will be needed to bring internationally renowned hockey stars to Pakistan. This should be the main target as exposing the Pakistani players to international standards of competition will hone their skill set.
The support from the corridors of power is essential and was present in the form of respected parliamentarian Ahsan Iqbal, the Planning Minister, who has built a multi-purpose sports complex in his constituency, Narowal. He can lend support for the League on end.
Another supporter is Rana Mashhood, a vibrant and passionate person who heads the Prime Minister on Youth Program. He has backed a number of events aimed at promoting youth at various levels, and he is a sports-loving person. At the League’s launch, Mashood promised to support hockey and invest in its revival, and assured continued backing for young talent and new opportunities for Pakistani players.
“Our hockey is on the right track,” acting Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said at the launch to show his commitment to the League. He also realises that revival of the sport requires collective responsibility, professional management, long-term planning and a strong government-private sector partnership.
The League will also help the PHF to improve the standard of hockey, strengthening infrastructure, attracting corporate investment and providing players with better incentives.
Pakistan has been able to compete at the World Cup after an eight-year gap. They won a medal at the Asian Games after 12 years. These are small signs of improvement. “Good days are ahead for Pakistan hockey.
Our commitment is to attract investment, improve sports infrastructure, provide better incentives to our players and create an environment in which Pakistan hockey can once again move forward on the path of progress and success,” Wani said with a solid resolve.
