ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hockey misses yet another mega event as there is no presence of greenshirts in the World Hockey League final already under way in Indian city of Bhubaneswar. Eight teams which have shown improvement in recent times are part of the competition that has now effectively replaced Champions Trophy Hockey. New Zealand though ranked No 8 in the world could not qualify for the final because of the lackluster performance in World League semis. Spain has filled in for them and has already started making waves with a surprise win (3-2) over strong Dutch side Saturday. Australia were lucky to have pulled a draw (1-1) against hosts India after surviving some anxious moments while Olympic Champions Argentina tasted (2-3) defeat against fast improving Belgium side. For all the hockey fans, not finding Pakistan team yet again in a big event was not only surprising but shocking as well. Once the powerhouse of the game, Pakistan hockey team has now been reduced to playing invitational tournaments that have absolutely no bearing on teams’ international status. The treatment Pakistan hockey is getting internationally is not a fault of anyone else but those who are running the show these days. Two years back we were ranked six and seven-very much in the loop of major international category which is necessary to play leading international events. Pakistan’s deliberately missing the concluding Champions Trophy last year in England dealt a severe blow to Pakistan ranking that started declining from there on and now no one is ready to take greenshirts seriously in hockey world. It was very kind of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to have offered us playing opportunity in that Champions Trophy held in London in June last. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) refused to honour that FIH offer that came as a pleasant surprise. Our refusal created opportunity to Belgium team which never looked back. It was Belgium’s participation in the concluding Champions Trophy that had given them the realization that they could match the best and even could beat the best. That is the very reason that the team never looked back after competing in Champions Trophy at the refusal of PHF. Now the team stands with the best in the world and Pakistan hockey is seen nowhere. Missing such big events as of Champions Trophy and now World Hockey League finals comes heavy on team’s progress as a results the gap becomes bigger and bigger by each passing day. Pakistan had also missed the opportunity of playing the Junior World Cup held in India last year more because what FIH says due to slackness of PHF and their inability to confirm their hotel rooms in India well in time. While all other teams are busy playing their back up teams mostly consisting of youngsters (as Australia and Holland are doing), Pakistan juniors are getting no international exposure-meaning we would not able to listen to get any good news on Pakistan hockey front in near future.
