The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced the removal of Pakistan’s hosting rights for the upcoming Olympic Qualifier tournament scheduled for January 2024. This decision comes amid allegations of “non-cooperation and interference in the PHF’s affairs” by the government, which has raised concerns about the governance situation within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
Originally, China, Spain, and Pakistan were designated to host the Olympic Qualifier matches from January 13 to 21, 2024. Lahore was set to be the host city for the Pakistani leg of the tournament.
Nicolas Maingot, the FIH’s senior communication manager, cited recent governance developments within the PHF as the primary reason for the decision. However, he also emphasized the FIH’s commitment to revitalizing hockey in Pakistan, acknowledging the country’s historic prominence in the sport. Maingot stated that the FIH would continue to collaborate with the PHF in the future.
As a result of this decision, a new host country for the Olympic qualifiers initially scheduled to be held in Pakistan will soon be announced. Meanwhile, the qualifiers will proceed in China and Spain according to the original plan.
The PHF, in its statement, underlined the necessity of government cooperation and support for international tournaments, which it asserted had been provided by Pakistan’s government, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). Without such support, organizing an event of this magnitude was deemed impossible.
The PHF expressed its disappointment over the decision, emphasizing the extensive preparations made for hosting the event. It also noted that India had raised concerns about Pakistan’s suitability as a host for the Olympic qualifier event.
PHF Secretary Haider Hussain lamented the missed opportunity to revive international hockey in Pakistan and enhance the country’s chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hussain also revealed that the PHF’s bank accounts were frozen on August 28, following advice from the PSB, which had prevented the federation from meeting the FIH’s financial requirements of approximately Rs15 million.
However, PSB Director-General Shoaib Khoso refuted these allegations, asserting that the board had not seized the PHF’s accounts. Instead, he stated that the suspension of the body was carried out on the orders of the prime minister, describing the allegations as “baseless.”
Once a dominant force in field hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, the country’s standing has declined over the past two decades. According to the latest rankings released by the FIH in August, Pakistan is currently ranked 15th in the world for field hockey. This setback in hosting the Olympic Qualifier event further underscores the challenges faced by Pakistani hockey in regaining its past glory.
