Victory also involved some prescient coaching by Head Coach Tahir Zaman
Amidst all the criticism the country receives in everything, from infrastructure to waste management and healthcare to sports, it is important to remember that these jobs are often being done by people whose salary is a month (or more) late. In such circumstances, putting out something is a worthy achievement. But delivering something excellent would be absolutely extraordinary. This is just what the nation’s hockey team managed last week. Despite growing unrest among the players due to non-payment of daily allowances since their arrival in Malaysia for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Nations Cup tournament, the team managed to score a stunning upset win over world number 10 France in the tournament semi-finals on Friday (June 20). After the match ended in a thrilling 3-3 deadlock at the end of regulation time, Pakistan came out on top 3-2 in a nail-biting penalty shootout to storm into the final. The match was one for the ages, with Pakistan scoring three goals in the second half after ending the first down 2-0. One goal up with just three minutes to go, Pakistan seemed to have booked their finals spot, but the French were awarded a controversial penalty corner, enabling them to level the score.
That did not matter to Pakistan’s young goalkeeper Muneeb, who displayed nerves of steel and superb reflexes to pull off three decisive saves in the ensuing penalty shootout, securing victory for his team. Man of the Match, however, was Rana Waheed Ashraf. His relentless energy and creative brilliance ignited
d Pakistan’s comeback. The victory also involved some prescient coaching by Head Coach Tahir Zaman. Sadly, Pakistan fell short in the final against New Zealand on Saturday, going down 6-2. New Zealand were dominant, going up 5-0 with just under four minutes to halftime. While the green shirts might not have been able to bring home the gold, the silver is more than enough considering the situation they are facing. And while their achievement to even reach the final without being paid on time should be applauded, Pakistani athletes and workers must not be expected to compete and win against the world for free.
While the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced it will formally question the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) regarding the unpaid daily allowances of the national men’s hockey team, the situation should never have been allowed to have deteriorated to this extent. The issue is further compounded by outstanding payments for two domestic training camps. Hockey remains the country’s national sport and Pakistan was once the best in the world at the game but those running the sport do not appear to want to see it back on top. This payment issue is not the only scandal to plague Pakistan hockey in recent years, with bitter infighting between two parallel factions in the PHF being reported last year. It is one thing to lose on the field of play, but the off-field issues plaguing hockey in Pakistan means the country’s players are up against the wall before their games even start. They deserve better.