PAKLINKS BANNER EXCHANGE
As a conservative in estimate only four countries have crowd-pulling qualities at hockey Pakistan, Holland Malaysia and India. The magnetic charm of Pakistan hockey is basically in its skills and the pace at which it is played, although its resilience at times transcends everything else.In the early years a wave of national fervour inspired young Pakistani players to show their mettle. There was so much talent available that despite many differences of opinion in the matter of selection the team was on a winning streak on natural grass.
Difficulties arose with the introduction of artificial turf in the late '70.The shortage of such surfaces pushed the players at student level into the background and the field of choice for national selection was narrowed, thereby opening the door to internal politics. As a consequence, Pakistani hockey fell into decline for nearly a decade.
One of the reasons for its recovery over the last couple of years can be found in the policy of the PHF secretary Mudassar Asghar who, three years ago, revived school hockey and the junior championship. With Pakistan winning the Junior Asia Cup, a four-nation junior tournament in Holland and the international youth championship last year he may have brought about a new beginning.
A hastily prepared team made its debut at the 1948 Olympic Games in London under the leadership of Colonel AIS Dara, a centre forward of outstanding quality who was nearing the end of his playing career. 2-0 defeat by Great Britain in the semi-finals was followed by a match against Holland for the bronze medal. It ended in a 1-1 draw despite extra time but Holland won the reply 4-1.
A much improved side was again confined to fourth place at the Helsinki Games of 1952 after losing 2-1 to Great Britain in the play-off for the bronze medal. The game in Pakistan gained momentum under the leadership of Abdul Hamid, more popularly known as Hamidi and the silver medal was won at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne where Pakistan lost1-0 to India in the final, where Randhir Singh Gentle's goal from a penalty corner proved decisive.
However, the hour of triumph was around the corner. In 1958 at the Asian Games in Tokyo, Pakistan seized the gold medal after a goal-less draw with India, the issue being decided on goal average. Two years later a dream came true in Rome when Pakistan won the gold medal to end India's reign as champions. A brilliant goal in the first half by Nasir Bunda settled the argument in the final and Hamidi was soon on the victory stand amid scenes of great acclaim.
With the retirement of Hamidi, Mansoor Hussain Atif took over the captaincy in the role of a full-back and the India-Pakistan rivalry was resumed with Pakistan defeating India 2-0 at the Asian Games final in Jakarta. The tide turned in 1964 when Pakistan lost the Olympic final to India in Tokyo where the only goal of the match was scored by Mohinder Lal from a penalty stroke in the second half. Pakistan also lost the Asian Games final at Bangkok in 1966 with India winning 1 -0.
Air Marshal Nur Khan arrived the scene to begin the task of reconstruction in his capacity as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. A strong team led by Tariq Aziz and managed by Mansoor Hussain Atif was sent to Mexico City in 1968 for the Olympic Games and the gold medal was regained after an exciting 2-1 victory over Australia. The winning goal was scored by Asad Malik. Two years later the Asian Games title was recovered at Bangkok.
Pakistan initiated and donated the trophy for the World Cup which was launched in 1971 but political undercurrents caused the first event to be moved to Barcelona where, after a dramatic change of fortune, Pakistan brought home the magnificent trophy.
A 1-0 defeat by West Germany in the 1972 Olympic final at Munich brought about a fall from grace. The behaviour of the Pakistan team on the victory stand left much to be desired and the immediate reaction of the International Hockey Federation was to impose a life ban on the whole team. After an apology from the highest level the ban was reduced to two years.
Consequently, a makeshift team led by Khalid Mahmood was dispatched to the second World Cup tournament at Amstelveen in 1973. Entry was gained into the semi-finals but hopes were dashed by a 1-0 defeat by India and the ultimate result was a fourth place, West Germany having seized the bronze medal with a 1-0 win in the play-off. The team was restored to full strength for the 1974 Asian Games at Teheran where there was little difficulty in holding on to the gold medal.
The next World Cup tournament moved to Kuala Lumpur in 1975 where I the reward was a silver medal after a 2-1 defeat in the final by India. Several Pakistani defenders questioned the winning goal scored by Ashok Kumar, son of the famous Dhyan Chand, claiming that the ball did not cross the line but the umpire's decision was final.
Olympic hockey was played for the first time on artificial turf in 1976 at Montreal where Pakistan took the bronze medal after a play-off with Holland; New Zealand won the gold and Australia the silver. The game was back on natural grass for the World Cup at Buenos in 1978 and in a thrilling final Pakistan defeated Holland 3-2 to regain the gold medal. The lasting memory of this event was Pakistan's 1-0 victory over West Germany in the semifinal with a superb goal by Islahuddin, the captain. A sequence of successes followed with gold medals in the Champions Trophy tournament at Lahore, the Esanda World Tournament at Perth Australia in 1979 and the second Champions Trophy at Karachi in 1980.
In 1978 the Asian Games title was retained in Bangkok and in the following year the gold medal was won at the first Junior World Cup toumament at Versailles after a 2-0 victory over West Gemmany in the final. The boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow dampened hopes of another gold medal and in 1981 the Champions Trophy passed into the hands of Holland at Karachi.
An outstanding perfommance in the 1982 World Cup tournament at Bombay kept the trophy in Pakistan's possession and after a disappointing fourth place in the Champions Trophy tournament at Amstelveen more glory was at hand. At the Asian Games final in New Delhi Pakistan trounced India by seven goals to one, bringing to the surface the combined talent of Mansoor Hussain (junior) Kaleemullah and Hasan Sardar.
By the end of the year, however, there was another slump while defending the Esanda Trophy at Melbourne where, after an early defeat by India, Pakistan was left with little to savour; but at the start of 1983 the silver medal was secured after a close tussle with Australia in the fifth Champions Trophy tournament at Karachi.
The Pakistani team arrived at Los Angeles for the Olympic Games in 1984 with little else to show in terms of results and luck played a part in its entry into the semi-finals. Holland, needing a 5-0 margin of victory against Kenya to qualify, could manage only a 3-0 win and Pakistan scraped through on goal difference.
Another silver medal was obtained in the 13th Champions Trophy event at Berlin in 1991 before which the Asian Games title was regained at Beijing in 1990, not forgetting that pulsating silver medal at the World Cup at Lahore early in the year.
Heartened by the BMW triumph at Amstelveen in June 1992, Pakistan departed to Barcelona for the Olympic Games with high hopes. The key match in this tournament was the semi-final which Pakistan should have won against Germany: but chances were missed and the Germans won 2-1 after extra time. Ultimately, the bronze medal was seized after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Holland.
In 1993, fourth place at the 15th Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur was followed by further disappointment when the Asia Cup was seized by South Korea at Hiroshima. At the same venue in 1994 the Koreans regained the Asian Games gold medal with Pakistan dropping to third position.
But 1994 was also a memorable year.The Champions Trophy was back again in Pakistani hands after 14 and the World Cup was recovered in Sydeny after a Penelty stroke shoot out against Holland.
The Champion Trophy went back to Germany in 1995 in Berlin with Pakistan winning the Bronze medal.
If further evidence of revival is needed think of what happened at the conclusion of the five-nation Golden Jubilee tournament at Karachi in March 1997 when Pakistan romped through the bronze medal play-off against Australia with a 7-4 victory. The team reached peak form a little too late but the comforting thought was that it remained unbeaten having earlier drawn with England, Holland, Germany and Australia.
So much for the past filled with lasting memories; but what of the future? With the World Hockey Series due to start at the end of this year, according to the FIH, we could be facing the dawn of a new era and players in Pakistan, as indeed in other parts of the world, will be weighing the spirit of the game against its commercial potential.