Former coach Shahnaz Sheikh calls for PM’s intervention and interim setup to revive Pakistan hockey
Former coach Shahnaz Sheikh calls for PM’s intervention and interim setup to revive Pakistan hockey
By Nawaz Gohar ; Renowned former hockey coach and Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh has lashed out at the systemic decline of the national sport, claiming that hockey in Pakistan has been “played with” for the last 20 years.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Shahnaz Sheikh asserted that both political and non-political power players are responsible for the current state of the game. He emphasized that the only path to recovery is to professionalize the administration. “For the betterment of hockey, the federation should be handed over to technocrats,” he stated.
Sheikh reminded the government that recommendations made by his committee had previously been accepted. “We had specifically recommended an interim administrative setup. It is now time for the Prime Minister to play his role in saving the national sport,” he added.
Addressing the grassroots crisis, the former coach pointed out a major disconnect between quantity and quality. He noted that while there are approximately 1,100 hockey clubs across the country, there is a visible lack of emerging talent.
He demanded a transparent and rigorous scrutiny process for these clubs, acknowledging that while the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) initially showed “agility and honesty” in this regard, the process must be completed fairly to weed out ghost clubs and find genuine players.
