Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Mohiuddin Ahmad Wani has outlined a three-to-five-year strategy to revive the national sport, arguing that Pakistan hockey must move away from temporary fixes and focus on sustained development.
The plan comes as questions over Pakistan’s international competitiveness resurfaced following the team’s defeat to England in its opening match of the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.
Speaking to The Express, Wani said the federation intends to rebuild the sport at every level, creating a structured system that develops players from their earliest involvement in hockey through to the national side.
“Our priority is not just to win one tournament but to rebuild the entire hockey ecosystem,” he said.
Under the proposed framework, young players would advance through school, district, provincial and national competitions, with selection based on merit and a clearly defined pathway towards the senior Pakistan team.
The PHF also intends to draw lessons from successful hockey systems in countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and India, with greater emphasis on infrastructure, modern coaching and systematic player development.
Improving the standard of domestic coaching will form another part of the strategy. The federation plans to work with international experts to provide advanced training to Pakistani coaches and introduce contemporary techniques at different levels of the game.
The PHF also wants players to gain greater international exposure through overseas tours, while simultaneously encouraging foreign teams to visit Pakistan.
Wani said national players would be offered better financial incentives and more clearly defined long-term career prospects, as the federation seeks to make hockey a sustainable professional option for talented athletes.
The broader objective, he said, is to create a development structure capable of producing lasting results rather than relying on short-term measures to improve the national team’s performance.