Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mir Tariq Bugti is optimistic about the bright future of hockey in Pakistan. He acknowledges the challenges ahead but is determined to restore hockey to its lost glory. He stated that 2025 will be a pivotal year for hockey, with the Pakistan hockey team expected to play bilateral series against foreign teams, which will benefit the sport in the country. He emphasized his major goals, which include winning the Junior Hockey World Cup, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, and participating in the Olympics. Mir Tariq Bugti expressed his gratitude to Army Chief, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, and Advisor to Youth, Masood, for their support for hockey’s improvement.
In an interview with “CricBold,” Mir Tariq Bugti shared his initial struggles upon taking charge of the federation. He was unaware of the dire situation and financial constraints, realizing on his first day that there was no funding available. He was faced with the challenge of how to manage the federation without any financial resources. He confidently stated, “I will manage it; if there is performance, the funding will follow.
” He believes that the Pakistani community is always willing to support when good performance is shown.”
Bugti mentioned that his first mission was to ensure the team’s participation in international tours, despite lacking funds to send the team to Oman. He highlighted the importance of international exposure for the team, as it had been missing for a long time, causing Pakistan’s international ranking to drop to 17th. He proudly noted that, thanks to their efforts, they have successfully improved the ranking to 15th and completed four international tours despite significant challenges.
Also Read: “National Junior Hockey Team Kicks Off Training Camp for Junior Asia Cup in Karachi”
Mir Tariq Bugti pointed out that the politics of the federation are quite different from general politics. While political maneuvers in other spheres might lead to short-term victories or defeats, the dynamics within the federation require daily engagement to address ongoing issues. He reflected on a statement he made regarding the team’s trip to China that was misinterpreted negatively, reiterating that his ultimate goal is to improve hockey in Pakistan. He credited the support from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Masood for their assistance during challenging times.
He revealed that the total budget for Pakistan hockey is set at 3.5 million rupees, while conducting four tours would cost approximately 20 million rupees. Despite these limited resources, the players have delivered outstanding results, earning recognition from the Army Chief, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for their performance. Former Olympians have remarked that the recognition these players received far exceeds what they experienced in the past.
The PHF president concluded by emphasizing the importance of ensuring that players are not under undue pressure or burden. He believes that when his players are happy and stress-free, they perform better on the field. He encourages open dialogue with players to understand the challenges they face, which was often overlooked in the past.
The key issue is that we must take care of our children. Previously, there was no health insurance. You see, the federation does not have a single ground in Pakistan. We do not own any stadium; there is only the Edhi Stadium in Karachi, which is occupied and on lease. Everything is under the Sports Board, and wherever we want to hold an event, we need to write to them in advance.
I am going to make a bold claim: if I receive the same level of support from the government in 2025 as I did in 2024, then, God willing, the Junior World Cup will be held in Pakistan. I am hopeful that our boys are very talented, and I say this with conviction. If we receive the same support in 2025 as we did in 2024, you will see the Junior World Cup being held in India in December under Pakistan’s banner. I am confident in my boys’ talent, and we will prove ourselves. This is my claim.
Personally, I believe that when we compete with Europe, our talent will shine even more. The issue is that we do not get opportunities to hold events here. My plan for next year is to take the team to Germany and keep them there for one to two months, allowing them to compete with teams from the Netherlands and Belgium. This exposure will yield better results for us. India is currently spending about one billion rupees on hockey, and as you know, their international hockey federation ranking is third.
However, we must appreciate the Pakistani children. Despite the lack of resources, they performed outstandingly in the recent competition in China. Yes, we lost 1-0, but it wasn’t a loss in spirit. The boys fought valiantly, and our planning was aimed at facing them in the final. We had not revealed all our strategies, but unfortunately, our vice captain Abu Bakr Mahmood broke his leg, and the other player, Ghazanfar Ali, faced the death of his father. The atmosphere was somber; I was there myself. It was a sad environment, with all the boys and management present. We were contemplating sending him to play while his father’s body lay on one side. But I commend this boy for saying,
“Sir, I cannot leave the Pakistan team.” I can only say that it was just not our day.
In response to a question, he mentioned that a bilateral series between Pakistan and China is coming up soon. He said, “While I was in China, I reached an agreement with them that they will provide the boarding, while we will handle the traveling. The Pakistan team will depart on November 9.” Furthermore, in March and April of next year, the German team will visit Pakistan, and the National Hockey Stadium will see renewed activity when the Malaysian team tours Pakistan next year.
Since I took over the Pakistan Hockey Federation, I have been actively seeking sponsorship. I can now say that several major sponsors have come forward, allowing us to organize an international-level hockey league, which will bring forth new talent and provide young players with the opportunity to learn from international athletes. Personally, I believe that this league should not be a short-term project; we should aim for a 10-year agreement, not just two to four years.
Also Read: Asian Hockey Champions Trophy: Injured Abu Bakar Still Awaiting Treatment
Mir Tariq Bugti stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and especially Rana Masood, who is the head advisor for youth, all feel the importance of bringing children out from the world of mobile phones and onto the grounds, a goal we see reflected in the “Playing Punjab” initiative. Another point is that while Imran Khan ended departmental sports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has restored them. Rana Sanaullah has called a meeting with all departments and instructed them to form their teams, which will provide job opportunities for the youth and bring health insurance for the players.
Mir Tariq Bugti expressed that things are moving in a positive direction. Once the hockey league starts, the boys will also receive contracts. Regarding modern coaching, he mentioned that Tahir Zaman is our best coach, and he is also conducting coaching courses. He emphasized that they are not focusing on just one sector; they plan to cover all sectors. They have hired coaches for the long term, signing contracts for two years to ensure that their services are available whenever needed, whether for junior or senior teams. Additionally, umpiring courses have also commenced. “We are considering every aspect,” he stated.
Currently, our goalkeeper is not delivering good results because we do not have a goalkeeper coach. Therefore, we plan to hire an international goalkeeper coach from abroad.
He added that the parallel federation has caused significant damage; they targeted not only hockey but also the hockey federation. This was unprecedented in Pakistan hockey. However, the federation has now imposed a ban on them, and they have no affiliation with hockey anymore.
Mir Tariq Bugti, President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, sees a very bright future for hockey in Pakistan. He stated that the previous hockey federation did nothing for the sport; it was merely talk without action. They did not provide facilities for the players or stabilize the federation. He expressed his astonishment at what the previous administration was doing, but now we must focus on the bright future of hockey.
He mentioned three of his goals: the Junior World Cup, which is going to be held in India, will, God willing, come to Pakistan. Additionally, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and the Olympics is also a significant objective.
