PHF eyes legend Colin Batch for head coach role; Waseem Ahmed tipped as assistant
PHF eyes legend Colin Batch for head coach role; Waseem Ahmed tipped as assistant
By Nawaz Gohar ; The search for a new foreign head coach for the Pakistan national hockey team has been reignited, with Australian legend and veteran coach Colin Batch reportedly being considered for the top slot.
According to reliable sources, if Batch’s appointment is finalized, a proposal to appoint former Pakistani star Waseem Ahmed as the assistant coach is also under serious deliberation.
Sources indicate that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is keen on securing the services of an experienced foreign coach to overhaul the team’s performance and restore its standing on the international stage. In this regard, Colin Batch is being viewed as a formidable candidate.
Born on March 27, 1958, in Melbourne, Batch was a prolific forward during his playing days, renowned for his exceptional tactical reading of the game, ball control, and clinical finishing. Representing the Australian “Kookaburras” from 1979 to 1990, he earned 175 international caps and scored 100 goals. His accolades include a Gold medal at the 1986 World Cup and Bronze medals in the 1982 and 1990 editions.
After retiring as a player, Batch transitioned into coaching, becoming one of the most successful figures in the sport. He served as Australia’s assistant coach during their “Golden Era” (2001–2008), contributing to an Olympic Gold in Athens (2004) and Bronze in Beijing (2008).
Batch later served as the head coach for Belgium (2010–2012), laying the foundation for their rise as a global powerhouse, and led New Zealand’s “Black Sticks” until the 2016 Rio Olympics. Returning as Australia’s head coach in late 2016, he held the position for eight years, guiding them to an Olympic Silver in Tokyo 2020 and back-to-back Commonwealth Games Gold medals in 2018 and 2022. He was honored as the FIH Men’s Coach of the Year in 2019. Having stepped down from the Australian role in September 2024, he is currently available for a new international challenge.
On the other hand, former national captain Waseem Ahmed—regarded as one of the greatest players in Pakistan’s history—is also in the frame to join the coaching staff. Holding the record for the most international caps for Pakistan (410 matches between 1996 and 2012), Waseem was a world-class left-half and a mainstay of the Pakistani midfield for over a decade.
Hockey enthusiasts believe that if the PHF successfully brings a coach of Colin Batch’s stature on board, it could prove to be a landmark step in the revival and rehabilitation of Pakistan hockey.
