Pakistan’s former hockey international of the early 1980s, Major Peerzada has been regularly organising functions to honour hockey greats in ‘Meet a Hockey Stalwart’ series.

In the 14th such gathering, the legendary Shahnaz Sheikh was honoured at a magnificent function in Lahore.

He was one of the finest forwards in hockey history - many called him ‘Pele of Hockey’.

In his decade-long international career (1969-79), Sialkot-born Shahnaz won medals at all the title tournaments. In three World Cup appearances: two golds (1971 & 1978) and one silver (1975). In two Olympics: silver (1972) & bronze (1976). Golds at all the three Asian Games (1970, 1974 & 1978).

Whenever World XI was announced after a World Cup/Olympics, Shahnaz Sheikh’s name was there.

Many hockey stars of the past were present:

Pakistan’s 1968 Olympics gold medal-winning captain Dr. Tariq Aziz, 1982 World Cup-winning captain Akhtar Rasool,

World Cup winners Manzoorul Hassan, Lt Col Saeed & Rana Ehsanullah, decorated Olympian Col. Mudassar Asghar and former captain Rehan Butt.

An unexpected guest brought great excitement. Kenyan hockey legend Avtar Singh Sohal, arguably the greatest African hockey player, who appeared in four Olympics (1960-72) - captain in three. He famously led Kenya to fourth place at the 1971 World Cup.

Prominent personalities from other sports were also in attendance:

Boxer Lt Col Arif Malik (Asian Games silver medallist), Lt Col Mujahid Tareen (Pakistan’s former soccer captain), Wing Commander Pervez Saeed Malik (international athlete), and Lt Col Asif Dar (held positions in international & national sports bodies).

Khawar Anwar Khawaja, the CEO of the world-renowned sports goods manufacturer Grays of Cambridge, also graced the occasion.

Dr Tariq Aziz, Akhtar Rasool, Manzoorul Hassan, Col Mudassar Asghar, Lt Col Asif Dar and Avtar Singh came to the stage to pay tribute to Shahnaz.

The legend’s gamesmanship and versatility were especially mentioned.

Shahnaz started as a left-out and played in this position during the first few years of his international career. The team management thought because of his all-round game, he would be more suitable as an inside forward. From 1974-78, Shahnaz was Pakistan’s inside left. On the eve of the 1978 World Cup, not finding an appropriate spearhead, Shahnaz was asked to switch to the centre-forward position. With eight goals, he was Pakistan’s top scorer in their victorious campaign at that World Cup. The great team man was even the side’s inside right for a short while.

His teammates at the 1976 Olympics, Manzoorul Hassan and Mudassar Asghar believe Shahnaz’s ouster in the semifinal cost Pakistan the gold medal. We had emerged as the hot favourites; unbeaten in the pool matches. In the semifinal against Australia, Pakistan forged ahead in the first minute. A scuffle ensued between Shahnaz and an Australian defender in the next minute. The Aussie’s stick hit Shahnaz’s hand resulting in a fracture. He had to be replaced. Our forward line lost the rhythm and we lost 1-2.

Avtar Singh recalled the 1960s when the national teams of Pakistan and Kenya frequently visited each other. “Both benefited through keenly contested bilateral test series. I hope for a revival of those tours. In this regard, I have already extended an invitation to the Punjab Hockey Association. My club Sikh Union Nairobi has produced 27 players who represented Kenya at the Olympics. In 2026, the club plans to celebrate its centenary in a befitting manner and we want teams from other countries, especially Pakistan and India, to visit us.”

Shahnaz Sheikh shared interesting anecdotes. “We were in Malaysia. A young man approached me, ‘You are my favourite player. My wife is expecting our first child. If it’s a baby boy, we will name him after you.’

“I replied, “Shahnaz is not gender specific. You can even name your daughter after me.

“During a tour of India, Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar told me, ‘Your ball control suggests something like a magnet is inserted inside your hockey stick. I want to inspect it.’”

After the sumptuous dinner, as per the tradition, the evening signed off with the chief guest cutting the cake formed into a hockey field, and with an inscription, ‘an evening with Shahnaz Sheikh’.

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