KP holds senior hockey trials in Peshawar with 155 players

PESHAWAR: Senior hockey team trials were conducted in Peshawar on Thursday, with 155 players from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa taking part, indicating sustained interest in the sport despite long-running difficulties.

The trials were held at Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium in the Peshawar Sports Complex. National hockey team Chief Selector Samiullah Khan oversaw the process along with members of the Pakistan Hockey Federation selection committee.

Several former internationals and Olympians were also present during the trials, including Nasir Ali, Naeem Akhtar, Ayaz Mahmood, Atif Bashir, Shakeel Abbasi and Kashif Jawad.

Concerns over grassroots decline

Speaking to reporters, Samiullah Khan said hockey had weakened at the grassroots level and noted that schools had once played a central role in developing players.

He said, “In the past, hockey was actively played at the school level, which was the golden era of Pakistan hockey. Unfortunately, that system no longer exists,” he said.

Samiullah Khan also referred to shortcomings in sports infrastructure. Recalling a recent visit to Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, he said he found only one school with a hockey ground.

He said, “There are over 18,000 schools in Karachi, but very few have proper sports facilities,” he added, emphasizing that hockey now survives mainly in Punjab and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Samiullah Khan, financial pressures are also affecting the game, as players face limited job opportunities and inadequate funding, factors he said discourage young athletes from taking up hockey as a professional career.

Talent still emerging from districts

Despite the challenges, Samiullah Khan said several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to produce players and help keep the sport active in the province. He specifically mentioned Bannu, Swat and Mardan as areas that are still contributing hockey talent.

A member of the selection committee said the Peshawar trials form part of a wider assessment exercise. The official said the final outcome would be announced after a detailed review of players’ performances and feedback from selectors.

The turnout at the trials reflected continued participation from across the province as the selection process moved forward under the supervision of the Pakistan Hockey Federation officials and former players present at the venue.

“In the past, hockey was actively played at the school level, which was the golden era of Pakistan hockey. Unfortunately, that system no longer exists, there are over 18,000 schools in Karachi, but very few have proper sports facilities,” he stated.