In a significant development, the two rival factions of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have agreed to end their separate training camps for the national team, marking a crucial step towards unity within the federation. This decision came after government intervention, with both factions reaching an agreement to consolidate their efforts in a single training camp currently underway in Islamabad.
The training camp, overseen by Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, will also feature a three-member selection committee responsible for finalizing the squad for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Prime Minister’s coordinator on Youth Affairs, Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, announced the formation of the selection committee, which includes representatives from the Pakistan Sports Board and the Pakistan Olympic Association.
Mashood, empowered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address PHF issues, assured that matters regarding the federation’s leadership, led by Tariq Bugti and Shehla Raza respectively, would be resolved within the next two days.
The government’s intervention followed a letter from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), setting a deadline for Pakistan to decide on a unified team for the Azlan Shah Cup.
While Oltmans had been appointed by the Bugti faction, Shehla’s group had been conducting its camp in Karachi, announcing a 20-member team for the Azlan Shah Cup.
Mashood emphasized the need for immediate resolution, expressing concern over the decline of Pakistan hockey due to mismanagement by the PHF. He stressed the necessity for a new policy to revive the national game.
Meetings with both factions were attended by officials from various government bodies, including the PSB, HEC, and former Olympian Khawaja Junaid. Bugti and Shehla presented their respective cases, highlighting the legitimacy of their leadership claims.
Despite Mashood’s endorsement of Bugti’s faction’s training camp, a government official cautioned that no final decision had been made. Options include the Prime Minister’s direct intervention or the appointment of a new PHF chief.
Commenting on Pakistan’s deteriorating international hockey performance, officials called for a transformative change within the PHF, advocating for the exclusion of individuals associated with its past failures. With Pakistan’s absence from consecutive Olympics, urgent reforms are imperative to restore the country’s once-dominant position in the global hockey arena.