Former hockey Olympians Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior and Tauqir Dar have called on the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to take immediate steps to secure the national team’s participation in the upcoming Azlan Shah Cup, set to begin in Ipoh, Malaysia on November 22.
Speaking to media, Manzoor-ul-Hasan expressed uncertainty about whether the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) failed to extend an invitation or if the PHF chose not to accept it.
However, he emphasised that the tournament presented a unique opportunity for the PHF to field a team, particularly by incorporating young players to gain valuable practice ahead of the World Junior Cup in India later this year.
Tauqir lamented Pakistan’s absence, calling it detrimental both to the country’s hockey prospects and the tournament itself.
“Pakistan has traditionally been a regular participant in the Azlan Shah Cup, finishing as runners-up last year after a final loss to Japan,” he noted. “With India participating, the Pakistan-India match would attract immense global interest. It could significantly benefit the sport.”
Other top-ranked teams in the tournament include Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and Malaysia, with Canada, ranked 21st in the world, rounding out the line-up.
Tauqir pointed out the potential advantages for Pakistan’s team, stressing the importance of competing against high-ranking teams.
