The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Monday announced the national men’s team management for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Egypt from March 1 to 7.
Olympian Khawaja Junaid has been appointed head coach of the national side. Azfar Yaqoob will serve as assistant coach. Sultan Ashraf has been named video analyst, while Farrukh Atiq Khan will take on the role of team manager.
Earlier in the day, the national hockey team met PHF Ad-hoc President Mohiuddin Wani. Wani also held a separate meeting with the team management to review preparations for the World Cup Qualifying round.
During the meeting, Wani encouraged the players and assured them that all possible steps would be taken to help restore Pakistan’s lost glory in international hockey.
“We will take every possible step to restore Pakistan’s lost position in international hockey. The players are ambassadors of Pakistan; focus only on your game and bring honor to the country,” Wani told the team.
He assured the squad that the PHF would provide all necessary facilities and incentives, while handling logistics, coordination, and other off-field matters.
Wani added that no unnecessary pressure would be placed on the players and stressed the importance of discipline and performance.
“I will take responsibility for both good and bad decisions. We pray for better results in the World Cup Qualifying round,” he stated.
The announcement comes after a series of events that pushed Pakistan hockey into further turmoil. The controversy began during the national team’s tour of Australia, where hotel arrangements were reportedly not properly finalized, causing logistical problems for the squad.
The situation escalated when national team captain Ammad Butt publicly criticized the PHF over the handling of the tour arrangements. The matter drew the attention of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who took notice of the issue and ordered an inquiry.
Following the controversy, then-PHF President Tariq Bugti stepped down from his position, and Ammad Butt was handed a two-year ban by the federation.
After the administrative upheaval, Mohiuddin Wani was appointed interim president to oversee the federation’s affairs. He later revoked the two-year ban imposed on captain Ammad Butt.
