Losing hockey

After suffering embarrassment on the cricket field, it was hockey’s turn as Pakistan crashed miserably in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in the Malaysian city of Ipoh last week. After back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and Australia, Pakistan were hoping to bounce back against India in a must-win game. But the national team crumbled when it mattered the most as India recorded a thumping 5-1 win, a result that eventually helped it reach the final of the seven-nation tournament. Pakistan, which also fell to host Malaysia, had to settle for a play-off for the fifth place against Canada. It was a sad showing for Pakistan at a time where there were hopes of a hockey revival. However, it has become clear that our team lags behind in almost all areas of the game even when compared to India. Inevitably, we draw comparisons with India as it is both our immediate neighbour and arch-rival. Not long ago, Pakistan was better than India both in cricket and hockey. In cricket, back in 1986, Javed Miandad’s match-winning six in Sharjah initiated a winning spree for Pakistan against India that continued for years. In hockey, too, Pakistan stamped its authority over India right up to the 1990s. But the tables, as is evident, have turned.

Over the years, India has managed to train a reliable cricket team that is winning laurels for the country in all formats of the game. It might not be a similar story in hockey but the Indians are still doing better than Pakistan, a fact that was aptly underlined when the two teams met in Ipoh. The Indians have, in recent years, taken a series of long-term steps and are now reaping the benefits. Pakistan, in contrast, has failed to look beyond immediate gains, which is why we have failed to achieve anything substantial. It is time we went back to the drawing board and devised measures that can lift our sports, especially cricket and hockey. In hockey, it is important that we rope in foreign experts because home-grown coaches have obviously failed to deliver the desired results. More academies should be established on modern patterns and a professional league should also be initiated. Otherwise, we are in danger of forever losing hockey.