Even before they finally did accept the invitation to rejoin the FIH Pro League it was already clear Pakistan was and is not ready for sustained success. We have never seen anything remotely close to a plan for sustained successful domestic and international hockey. Never mind the successful execution of any plan. It’s still about politics, power-moves, blatant corruption and poor management it seems.

I know I should not be comparing the Pakistan to European or other successful set ups too much. On the other hand, you would expect people to learn lessons from what does work elsewhere… if the goal is to grow hockey.

But even from inside Pakistan they knew this renewed attempt is bound to fail. Pakistani media announced the attack from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on the administrators from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

A short summary of the allegations made by the PSB vs the PHF administrators:

• Failure to Hold Elections: The PHF President has not made any progress on conducting federation elections, despite this being the fundamental mandate of his ad-hoc appointment over a year and a half ago. The PSB considers this a breach of trust.

• Financial Opacity and Unauthorized Accounts:

  • The PHF has failed to act on a PSB inquiry report regarding an unauthorized bank account and has not provided its details.

  • It has not submitted certified bank statements for its accounts, despite receiving nearly Rs 120 million from the government.

  • The federation has not disclosed its total income, including rental income from national assets like the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.

• Improper Use of Funds:

  • The PSB alleges that office bearers are receiving “unauthorized perks” and that funds have been used for “inadmissible and administrative expenditures”.

  • While funds are being used for these administrative costs, players’ daily allowances remain unpaid.

  • The federation has been asked to justify its tour expenditures and the costs associated with establishing an “unauthorized office” in Islamabad.

The PSB’s letter asserts that sports federations are public bodies and that all funds, whether from the government or corporate sponsors, are public money requiring full transparency and accountability. And all of this was even before the PHF went ahead and jumped on the costly Pro League train again. Unprepared, without a plan and without the people able to make sure mistakes would be avoided beforehand this time. So some weeks ago we saw the Pakistani team kicked out of their hotel in Australia for unpaid bills and when their captain blew the whistle he got a two year suspension from his PHF, the coach and yet another administrator were fired. A new administrator steps in, contacts a new foreign coach and within days is replaced by yet another administrator who appoints a new Pakistani head coach without any serious credentials. And the circus starts again…

From a European perspective I’m inclined to say: “What’s new?” In my opinion there are two reasons for the decline of Pakistan hockey, both domestic and international.

One, the political instability of a country which is at “war”. Maybe the country should be focusing on other priorities right now?
Two, the glaring corruption of the administrators who, in a country where accountability is not a priority, get away with deflecting governmental funds instead of using it for the development of the sport

Both reasons are obviously intertwined.

Just like any serious hockey fan from all over the world I would love to welcome Pakistan back on the international scene. The derbies between them and their neighbour India are spectacular. Not the best hockey, but often the best show. However, you can not start building a new house if the foundations are not good.

As always there are many solutions possible to get out of this situation. None of these are an instant fix. All of these will take at least a decade to grow sustainable roots for an enduring solution.

Because I think we all agree, the quality of players is there. The love for the sport from fans is there. The trust in the administrators is not.

My solution? Build the foundations for your house first…

Step 1

The PHF should get new leadership:

• A CEO from a successful hockey nation, with an assistant from Pakistan.

• A CFO from outside of Pakistan, with an assistant from Pakistan.

• A CSO (Chief Sports Officer) from a successful hockey nation outside of Asia, with an assistant from Pakistan.

All of these people should get a mandate for 8 years. After 8 years the Pakistani assistants take the lead and get new international mentors to help them settle in their role and prepare for the next generation of Pakistani officials to take the reins for step 3: an independent PHF ruling over a healthy hockey sport.

The Pakistani government provides the funds for a minimum of 12 years after agreeing upon the budget proposed by these administrators. The CFO transfers the full amount of this to a third party outside of Pakistan. The third party has no ties to the sport or to the institutions running the sport. It should be a notary or one of the major law firms or auditors. Their only role is to safeguard the funds and pay out these funds according to contracts and agreed verifiable specifications. Before the start of year 4 the administrators would hand in a new budget proposal for the next 4 years and once agreed upon by the government they provide the extra funds needed and these are transferred to the third party mentioned above again. Same thing for the 8 year mark. The CFO makes sure all budgets are spent according to agreement and reports on this.

Step 2

The budget should allow for the following set up as a minimum. If we take a look at this from a top down perspective it should look something like this:

• Two national team programs: men and women. Each with a large team of 50 players in the program with 4 year contracts. From these 50 a core team of 30 is selected every two years to prepare for either Olympics or World Cup. From these 30 a selection 20 is announced in the lead up to every major event. The 50 players all get the same base salary every month. All selections are 100% at the discretion of the head coach and his/her coaching staff with only an advisory role from the CSO. The core team of 30 get a bonus every month on top of that. The 20 in an event selection get an additional bonus on top every month. Coaching staff includes a foreign head coach, two foreign assistants and a foreign S&C coach. For every foreign coach the CSO provides two Pakistani assistants. All of them have 4 year contracts, renegotiated before the end of year 3. All of them paid directly by the independent 3rd party managing the funds.

• In order to select the 50 in the national team program you need a domestic top league with at least 250 semi pro players for each program, men and women. These players and their coaching staff are all at least semi pro, meaning they get paid a sufficient amount to compensate for their time spent on the sport but they do have the freedom and possibilities to pursue other careers or studies as well. Similar to the national team programs, contracts should go for 4 years. These players should play in a domestic league that allows them to train at least a few times per week for a minimum of 30 weeks every year with at least 25 high level competitive games every season.

• In order to feed the domestic top league you need an U18 domestic top competition for both men and women with each at least 250 players and adequate coaching staff and below that the same for U16. So that is 500 youth players for both boys and girls playing and training in a controlled high level environment. In a western country we would expect the parents to cover the costs of these leagues. In Pakistan I guess it should be funded to a degree as well by the PHF and therefore according to the same regulations as the above leagues to prevent further corruption and loss of funds.

I believe this is the only way for a country like Pakistan to return to hockey glory in a sustainable and healthy way.

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But yeah… I fully understand this is from a western, a European perspective. The Asian perspective might be a different one. That said, I do believe the countries that lead the way in a healthy growing sport of hockey are the European countries I know best: the Netherlands and Belgium. Some others in Europe or also Australia, the UK and Argentina for example have done similar set ups in their own way with success as well. So, while I do recognize there might be different paths to a healthy hockey sport in different cultures. I know for a fact the above would work.

I think most hockey fans from around the world would agree: we all would love to see Pakistan return to hockey glory. I think it would be good for our sport from a global perspective. But today it does not seem likely. If you build a house without foundation, it will fall apart… Let’s hope I’m wrong ;)

Former Australia player Annan is regarded highly in the coaching circles. Along with fellow master tactician, Ric Charlesworth, she has turned China into a force in women’s hockey, which shows in their silver medal at the Paris Olympics. They are currently ranked fourth in the world.

It was on Annan’s recommendation that CHA agreed to look at the impressive resume of van den Heuvel and his appointment was announced on July 25.

Van den Heuvel coached the Netherlands’ men to a bronze medal at the 2010 World Cup, after which he became the Pakistan coach but had a turbulent time with them, eventually leaving the job in 2012. Later, he became Belgium’s assistant coach and went on to become their head coach.

Interestingly, one of the conditions of appointment put on the table by van den Heuvel was that he would continue to coach his Dutch club Bloemendaal.

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A Second Chance: How Pakistan Got Here

To understand the full weight of this potential intervention, we first need to rewind. Pakistan's hockey team recently found itself in the FIH Nations Cup final in Malaysia, where they faced New Zealand. Despite a valiant campaign, the final match saw New Zealand dominate, clinching the championship with a commanding 6-2 victory. Scott Cosslett netted two goals, including a penalty corner conversion, and Sam Hiha, Dylan Thomas, Sean Findlay, and Scott Boyde all contributed to New Zealand’s goal tally. Pakistan managed to respond with goals from Zikriya Hayat and Sufyan Khan, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide.

The Nations Cup triumph initially qualified New Zealand for the men’s elite FIH Pro League. However, in an unforeseen turn of events, New Zealand decided to withdraw from the next season of the Pro League due to undisclosed reasons, though sources suggest a "fund crunch". This withdrawal created a void, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) extended a coveted invitation to Pakistan, acknowledging their runner-up finish in the Nations Cup.

This invitation is a massive opportunity for Pakistan hockey. The FIH Pro League is a "high-profile international competition featuring the top-ranked hockey teams from around the world". More critically, it serves as a "critical platform for teams to earn ranking points and even more, gain valuable experience against world-class opponents". For a team currently sitting well outside of the top 10 in the global rankings, and one that hasn't featured in recent editions of the league—a key factor behind their slide—this participation could mark a "major comeback" and is "expected to bolster the team’s performance and visibility on the global stage". The next edition of the FIH Pro League is slated to begin in February 2026.

The Unprecedented Intervention: Cricket's Helping Hand?

Now, for the truly remarkable twist. While the invitation itself was a boost, the question of funding remained. Hockey federations globally often face financial challenges, and the PHF is no stranger to them, with reports mentioning frustrations among players over unpaid international allowances.

Enter the Pakistan Cricket Board. According to multiple sources, the PCB is reportedly stepping forward to fund Pakistan's participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League season. This isn't just about providing funds; it's about a complete takeover of financial and administrative responsibilities.

The most striking aspect of this proposed arrangement is that the PCB will handle everything with "no interference from the PHF".

The PCB plans to "deploy its own administrators" and potentially "contract event organisers" to manage all aspects, including monetary transactions related to Pakistan’s participation. This move is being interpreted as a "de facto takeover" of Pakistan’s Pro League campaign by the PCB, at least for the upcoming season.

Where are these funds coming from? In a fascinating repurposing of resources, the PCB's proposed funding will reportedly originate from government allocations meant for its own youth development program. An insider stated that the PCB would "release some of the funds it receives from the government for their youth programme, which can be used to help the hockey team’s needs for a full season of the Pro League". A PCB source has also confirmed this plan, stating, "Yes, PCB is going to come forward to help Pakistan hockey".

PHF's Predicament: Control vs. Necessity

This PCB intervention, while offering a lifeline, also puts the Pakistan Hockey Federation in a peculiar position. The PHF, led by President Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti and Secretary Rana Mujahid, officially remains the "nominal custodian of the sport".

However, sources suggest that they have been "actively trying to raise sponsorship funds to maintain control over the initiative". The reason is clear: if the PCB funds the Pro League, "PHF will have no control over financial transactions". This situation highlights a classic power tussle, with one group reportedly attempting to "oust the current leadership and regain control of hockey’s financial future". If the PCB directly manages the campaign, such "factional efforts may now be effectively sidelined".

The FIH has set a deadline of August 12 for Pakistan to officially respond to the invitation. However, the PHF is reportedly going to ask the FIH to extend this deadline to August 20. PHF President Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti has publicly confirmed ongoing discussions with government officials, expressing optimism for a state-funded solution. He also mentioned that the PHF has "sent a budget of 350 million rupees for the Pro League". The extension request likely stems from their hope to secure their own sponsors or government funds, thereby avoiding the loss of financial control that comes with PCB's involvement.

Implications and the Road Ahead

The potential intervention by the PCB is a complex issue with both significant advantages and underlying tensions.

On the positive side, it virtually guarantees Pakistan's participation in a crucial tournament, preventing the team from "missing a rare international opportunity". As the head coach has emphasized, there’s "no growth without tough opponents," making Pro League participation essential. This move is being hailed as a "groundbreaking development for Pakistan sport" and is "widely welcomed by fans of both sports". It offers a tangible path for Pakistan hockey to reclaim its standing on the global stage.

However, the arrangement also spotlights the PHF's financial instability and administrative challenges. The fact that a cricket board, albeit a financially stronger one, needs to step in, speaks volumes about the state of hockey funding in the country. The repurposing of youth program funds from cricket to hockey, while pragmatic, might raise questions about long-term sustainability and the autonomy of individual sports federations. The internal power struggle within the PHF, exacerbated by this external financial lifeline, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative.

The wait now is for the official announcement. Will the FIH grant the extension to August 20? Will the PHF manage to rope in its own sponsors or secure direct government funding to maintain control? Or will the PCB's unprecedented offer materialize, ushering in a new, albeit unconventional, era for Pakistan hockey?

Whatever the outcome, this fascinating development underscores the deep passion for sports in Pakistan and the lengths to which administrative bodies might go to ensure their teams compete at the highest level. For now, hockey fans can only watch and wonder as this unique saga unfolds.

Sources include:

Telecom Asia article by Jaspreet Singh

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Terrassa, just outside of Barcelona in Spain, is the village that brought us many hockey Olympians. The renowned club of Atlètic Terrassa will now be the host for the next generation of hockey legends.

Both men and women will be on display starting July 14 with finals on July 20.

Excited to see the talents play? For just under €8 you can buy the pass to watch almost all games live on the streaming platform from EuroHockey.

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For the men thse teams will play in Terrassa: BEL, ENG, ESP, FRA, GER, IRL, NED, TUR.

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For the women the teams are: AUT, BEL, ENG, ESP, FRA, GER, IRL, NED.

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