Puzzling PHF

Though our hockey team fared badly in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, these matches must have provided much-needed experience to our players. We have seen a steady decline in the sport despite the fact that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has taken numerous steps to regain our lost glory. The main reason is that not much attention is being paid on training talent at the grassroots level.

If the PHF is run by a ‘credible’ team of professionals and a grand strategy is prepared to revive the sport, it is not rocket science to understand that we can excel again in the field of hockey internationally. However, the recent announcement by the PHF that the hockey team will not be sent to England to feature in the Champions Trophy is puzzling. The federation has justified it on the ground that it wants to concentrate on the World Cup. Playing against tough teams in the Champions Trophy would have provided our players an excellent chance to prepare for the coveted cup.

Mubashir Mahmood

Karachi