Tag: Pakistan Hockey Federation

LAUSANNE: The Pakistan hockey team received a formal invitation from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday to participate in the Hockey Pro League, scheduled to take place in December this year.

The invitation followed New Zealand’s decision not to participate in the FIH Hockey Pro League due to financial constraints. Consequently, the FIH has given the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) a deadline of August 12 to inform about its decision to accept or decline the invitation.

Pakistan, the runner-up of the Nations Cup 2025—an event that serves as a qualifier for the Pro League —is set to participate in the prestigious event. The FIH Pro League began in 2019 and is contested annually by the top nine national hockey teams, as ranked.

The team with the highest points at the end of the season is crowned Champion and awarded the Pro League Trophy.

“After New Zealand notified the FIH of their decision not to participate in the next FIH Hockey Pro League Men’s season, FIH has, in accordance with the regulations, extended an invitation to the Nations Cup runners-up, namely Pakistan, to join the 2025-26 Pro League edition,” the official statement read.

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Earlier, it was reported that Hockey New Zealand has officially withdrawn from the League, citing financial difficulties as the primary reason.

The FIH had reportedly given New Zealand a deadline of July 21 to confirm their participation, but the Kiwis opted out before the cutoff date, informing the federation that budget cuts for the ongoing Olympic cycle had forced them to make tough calls.

This isn’t the first financial blow for New Zealand hockey; their women’s team had also been withdrawn from the Pro League earlier for similar reasons.

READ: Pakistan likely to get Pro League spot after New Zealand pullout

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the irregularities of the elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and other matters, ARY News reported. 

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of irregularities in various matters, including the elections of the PHF.

He has directed for a thorough investigation into these matters and has also instructed for a reference to be sent to the FIA.

Last month, on July 19, a special committee chaired by Khawaja Asif convened to discuss the PHF matters. Following the meeting, recommendations were formulated to address the irregularities and were subsequently forwarded to PM Shehbaz Sharif.

In light of these recommendations, PM Shehbaz Sharif has ordered transparent conduct of the PHF elections, ensuring a fair process. He has also directed a comprehensive review of the Hockey Clubs and the Electoral College.

The Pakistan Sports Board will implement the Prime Minister’s directives.

It is evident that the state of national sport hockey is dire, and recently, the performance of the Pakistan team in the Asian Champions Trophy held in India was notably inadequate.

The national team was knocked out of the Asian Champions Trophy, after facing a daunting 0-4 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on Wednesday.

Pakistan ended up with the same points as Japan and South Korea, however, it failed to qualify due to goal difference, as the other two teams progressed to the next round.

The green shirts failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time since its inception in 2011.

In this aforementioned event, Pakistan secured a sole victory in the match against China, while facing defeats against Malaysia and India and managing draws against Japan and Korea.

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CHENNAI: Afraz’s match-winner lifted Pakistan to keep their semi-final hopes alive with a convincing 2-1 victory over China in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy.

Pakistan started the game on a high as they maintained pressure on the Chinese defence right from the start and soon got the reward in the 19th minute, courtesy of Muhammad Sufiyan Khan’s brilliant goal.

The green shirts completely dominated the first half while Chinese players struggled to keep possession. However, Jiesheng Gao helped level things for China with an excellent flick from a penalty corner in the 32nd minute.

China’s comeback into the game was however cut short as Afraz scored in the 39th minute to give Pakistan a match-defining lead.

The green shirts put on a great effort to prevent China from firing the equalizer and thus tasted their maiden success in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy.

Pakistan’s Rana Abdul, who was adjudged the player of the match termed the victory over China a crucial one and revealed that the young team is looking forward to their tie against arch-rivals India.

“This game was really crucial for us. The young team played incredibly and we are looking forward to the India game,” said Abdul in the post-match presentation.

Pakistan’s first win in the Asian Champions Trophy propelled them to fourth place. Meanwhile, China’s hopes of reaching the semifinals have been diminished.

Notably, Pakistan was winless in the Asian Champions Trophy before this game, as they drew 3-3 against Japan yesterday.

Prior to that, they drew 1-1 against defending champions South Korea, while, they were handed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their first game.

Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India on August 9, while China will face Japan in their final group-stage match on the same day.

This is the seventh edition of the Asian Champions Trophy. Pakistan have won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while India have won in 2011 and 2016.

The 2018 edition saw Pakistan and India jointly sharing the trophy as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain.

Defending champions South Korea won the tournament in 2021 after thumping Japan on penalties.

READ: Pakistan endure setback ahead of China clash in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Tuesday imposed a lifetime ban on former team manager and Olympian Khawaja Junaid.

According to the PHF, the decision was made by the inquiry committee, founded to investigate the Pakistan team’s costly error during the Asia Cup match against Japan in 2022 when the green shirts fielded 12 players instead of 11.

Due to the blunder, the national team had a crucial goal disallowed against Japan and ended up on the losing side, which, consequently seized Pakistan’s expedition to qualify for the World Cup.

Notably, Pakistan needed to make it to the Super Fours of the continental event but could only finish fifth in the six-team tournament after beating Bangladesh in the rankings match.

Meanwhile, in an official statement, PHF stated that Junaid’s blunder resulted in Pakistan facing embarrassment, while the decision to ban him is in line with the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) guidelines.

“Pakistan faced a lot of embarrassment due to Khawaja Junaid. Due to his misconduct, Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup,” said PHF.

“The decision to ban him has been taken in line with FIH rules,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the federation also confirmed that PHF President Khalid Sajjad Khokhar also approved the decision of banning Junaid as his mistake was irredeemable.

“The committee called Khawaja Junaid but he did not come. The misconduct of Khawaja Junaid is unforgivable,” said PHF.

“In the light of the inquiry committee’s report, after the approval of PHF President Brigadier R. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Khawaja Junaid has been banned for life. Khawaja Junaid will not be able to participate in any hockey activity,” the statement concluded.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) prohibited the national hockey team from participating in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey as the board refused to grant the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event. 

According to the details, the federal government had established a standing committee under the presidency of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif to look after the matters of national sports in the country.

The formation of the committee and until its decision regarding the hockey barred the PSB from issuing any NOC to a player or a team.

Consequently, the SPB refused to issue an NOC to the PHF for the national team’s participation in the upcoming Azlan Shah Hockey tournament.

It is pertinent to mention that the PHF received a formal invitation for this year’s event in June.

The national Hockey team, who last participated in the event back in 2013, has clinched  the championship thrice in the past.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey faced a significant blow ahead of Azlan Shah Hockey Cup as two of its experienced players, Ammad Butt and Mubashar Ali, tendered their resignations, leaving the national team in a deep crisis.

According to the details, the team’s vice-captain Ammad and defender Mubashar sent their resignations, copies of which are available to ARY News, to the Pakistan Hockey Federation, stating their inability to continue with the team due to ‘family commitments’ and ‘personal reasons’.

The resignations are attributed to serious fissures that emerged within the ranks of the national hockey team with both the players suddenly deciding not to play in the current set-up.

It is pertinent to mention here that a training camp for the senior hockey players will commence on September 25 at Abdul Sattar Hockey Stadium in Karachi, after which the national men’s hockey team will be formed.

Pakistan are set to participate in the Sultan Azlan Hockey Cup scheduled from November 1 to 10 in Malaysia.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) cleared the debts of national players after six months, newly-elected president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar announced on Saturday.

The national hockey players received much-anticipated news as the federation cleared their daily allowance debts after a six-month-long delay.

The PHF deposited more than one and a half crore rupees to the accounts of more than 30 players, according to the details.

“The players were not paid their daily allowance for six months. Pakistan Hockey Federation has paid the dues of all the players,” said Khokhar.

It is pertinent to mention here that Khokhar was elected unopposed for a four-year term in the PHF elections held in August this year, along with Haider Hussain as secretary and Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara as finance secretary.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) recognized the recently-held elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and also issued the Affiliation Letter for the four-year constitutional period.

Following the issuance of the Affiliation Letter by the POA, Brigadier (Rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar as President, Syed Haider Hussain as Secretary General, and Shahid Parvez Bhandara as Treasurer will be part of the unit affiliated with the POA.

According to the details, PHF Secretary General Haider met with POA Secretary General Khalid Mahmood in his office, where the two discussed the international hockey events in great detail.

The POA Secretary-General acknowledged Haider’s services to hockey in Karachi and wished him luck in his future endeavours for the national sport, while also promising the PHF’s continued support.

“You have rendered your services for hockey at the grassroots in the best manner. From formation of departmental teams in Karachi to re-formation of women’s hockey team.
The participation of 1100 children in the country’s first summer camp has brightened the future of Karachi Hockey,” POA Secretary General Khalid stated.

“I hope you will continue to play the same role in the development and promotion of the national sport. Pakistan Olympic Association will continue its full cooperation with PHF in this regard,” he maintained.

PHF Secretary General Haider thanked POA Secretary General and acknowledged that the POA has always supported PHF for the promotion of the national sport of hockey.

It is pertinent to mention here that Khokhar was elected unopposed for a four-year term in the PHF elections held in August this year, along with Haider Hussain as secretary and Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara as finance secretary.

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president, Brig. (ret.) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar made a significant accusation against the former PHF Secretary Shahbaz Senior and accused him of corruption.

Khokhar, in a press conference here at Karachi Press Club after being re-elected unopposed as the president of PHF opened the pandora box as he alleged the former PHF secretary Shahbaz of corruption and claimed he would be handcuffed if the former opens the inquiry against him.

“I have the inquiry against Shahbaz Senior and if I open it today, he would be handcuffed,” said Khokhar.

The newly re-elected PHF President then questioned the calls for him to step down from the federation’s presidency and argued that the national team was performing better under his stewardship.

“For what should I take the responsibility when our team is fine?” Khokhar questioned. “When my tenure began, the [national] team was ranked 13th,” he maintained.

Khokhar also claimed that he had paid for the team’s participation at the Asian Games as well as his travel expenses, while also accusing former PHF office holders of corruption and promising to bring the offenders to justice.

“The corrupt individual steps down. I paid for the team’s tour to the Asian Games out of my own pocket. See how many trips I took over the course of five years and how much I paid for them all on my own,” he stated.

“If someone comes in accordance to my competency then I will leave. We will expose the corruption done by the previous secretaries,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that besides Khokhar’s re-election as the PHF President, Haider Hussain was elected as the secretary of PHF while Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara Finance secretary.

READ: Khalid Sajjad Khokhar re-elected unopposed as President PHF

LAHORE: Young hockey players held a protest against the scrutiny committee’s decision regarding the elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday.

The young hockey players demonstrated in front of the PHF offices here, chanting anti-PHF slogans and complaining that the new ad hoc system favours its favourites.

Former PHF President and Olympian Salman Akhtar Rasool, Ali Akhtar Rasool, Mujahid Afzal, and Muhammad Yaqoob also partook in the protest and alleged current PHF management for the misconduct.

“Pakistan Hockey Federation rewarded their favourite people. Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool, Akhtar Rasool, Afzal Muna, and Dar families have services for hockey,” Salman stated.

Another former hockey player Yaqoob on the other hand termed the suspension of the clubs by PHF an ‘arbitrariness’ while threatening to shut down the federation if their demands were not met.

“We disagree with PHF’s assertion that significant clubs were arbitrarily expelled. We will lock the federation if PHF refuses to grant us our right,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mujahid made a major assertion that he was told to remove Asif Bajwa from the presidency of the federation and his denial resulted in the suspension of the Afzal Muna club.

“I was instructed to depose Asif Bajwa as president. Because of my rejection, the Afzal Mana Club’s vote was cancelled,” he asserted.

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