PHF refuses ” wild-card entry” in the Champion’s Trophy

Lahore: Pakistan Hockey Federation has expressed its regret to take part in the upcoming Champion’s Trophy tournament of June 2016.

The Champion’s trophy tournament was first introduced in 1978 by Pakistan where the top 6 world hockey teams compete in a “round-robin” layout tournament to win the big prize. The tournament was being held annually since its inception but after much gained popularity and introduction of World Hockey League in 2014, the event is now being held biennially.

Pakistan has hosted the first three tournaments after which through a proviso by FIH, Champion’s Trophy tournament came back to Pakistan after every three years due to the country’s well sung reputation in international hockey, however after the misfortune of 9/11 in 2001 and the incident with Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore, Champion’s Trophy is now held at randomly selected venues.

Since 1978, so far the grounds for champion’s trophy had been set for 35 times, out of which Pakistan has won the gold medal for 3 times in 1978, 1980 and most recent in 1994 which makes Pakistan the only Asian team to have won the award thrice. As the title describes the Champion’s Trophy is held to celebrate the most well performing recent most champions of the hockey world.

As for the qualification for competing in the event, those teams that have acquired internationally recognized titles or teams that are able to reach the final rounds in the Olympics gain the opportunity to compete in the champion’s Trophy in preceding year. Pakistan has not been able to qualify in the Olympics which also made it difficult for the national team to get chosen for the Champion’s Trophy.

This isn’t the first time that Pakistan will not be competing in Champion’s Trophy tournament. Pakistan did not qualify for the Champion’s Trophy first time in 1979, however because of their excellent performance in Olympics; (Qualifying to play the semi-finals) Pakistan got a chance to participate in Champion’s Trophy. For the past two years Pakistan has not been able to compete in major events such as Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament due to the scarcity of funds.

In 2015 during a visit of the President of FIH Leandro Negre and Chief Executive FIH Kelly Fairweather in Lahore, the newly embedded management of Pakistan Hockey Federation proposed the possibility of Pakistan’s national team to participate in the Champion’s Trophy and the coming Azlan Shah Hockey tournament through a “wild-card entry” ( a player or team that has not qualified for a competition but is allowed to take part, at the organizers’ discretion, after all the regular places have been taken. )to which FIH regretted to PHF for not considering the Pakistani team in the Champion’s Trophy.

The FIH held its stance that since Pakistan has not been able to acquire an internationally recognized title in recent years therefore the FIH cannot allow green shirts to participate in the said tournament.

After receiving regret from FIH last year, Pakistan Hockey Federation decided to overlook the tournament and set its aim to qualify for the bigger prize of Hockey world cup. For this purpose a national Team Development Squad has been assembled that is preparing the team for the qualifying round of world cup 2018 and Olympics 2020.

However, in previous week, Holland expressed its regret to FIH for not being able to participate in the Champion’s Trophy due to the lack of availability of its players for the tournament. It was after this episode that FIH decided to extend its favor of providing Pakistan with a wild-card entry to participate in the event. Since the national team was in its preparation phase for the revival of hockey and this invitation has hardly any time to prepare for the Champion’s Trophy at a short notice.

Therefore, in the best interest of the game and to keep the confidence of the National Squad intact, PHF expressed its regret to participate in the Champion’s Trophy with best intentions for the hockey world. Pakistan has now set forth its eyes towards the Hockey world cup 2018 and Olympics 2020 for which a vigorous training program is already underway.

During this process of developing the team, Pakistani players will be exposed to a number of tournaments including the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament so as to build the confidence of the team and to prepare them for the bigger event. As for the Champion’s Trophy, FIH after refusal by PHF has now approached the Korean team to participate in the event.

PHF is fully alive, mindful and aware of its responsibilities and obligations to fulfill the expectations and aspirations of the Nation and will leave no stone unturned to promote, rejuvenate and revive Hockey in Pakistan.