Despite contacting the PSB three times for funding, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has not gotten a response, according to reliable sources.
Prior to the FIH Nations Cup, the Pakistani squad is scheduled to depart for South Africa on November 22, but it still lacks the funds to pay for travel and lodging.
In addition, PHF Secretary Haider Hussain emphasised the significance of Pakistan’s participation in the forthcoming FIH Nations Cup after the Green Shirts won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 and earned bronze.
“Taking part in the FIH Nations Cup is crucial for us. We haven’t competed in the Olympics in eight years, so winning the competition will help us go back there, added Hussain.
I want to ask the prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif] to aid us in this area because we don’t have the money for our journey to South Africa, he insisted. The team’s rating will be impacted by its absence from the FIH Nations Cup.
The best-ranked teams not taking part in the FIH Hockey Pro League can compete at a high level in the FIH Nations Cup, and the winner team has the chance of being promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League the following season.
As a result, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup heralds the beginning of the promotion-relegation system for the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the victorious side having the opportunity to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League in 2023–24.
The 2023–24 and 2024–25 FIH Pro League champions will receive direct qualification to their respective 2026 Hockey World Cups. Following that, the victors in 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 will earn a spot in the 2028 Olympics.
From November 28 to December 4, 2022, the North-West University of Potchefstroom, South Africa, will host the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup.
Pool A includes Pakistan, France, Ireland, and the host nation, South Africa. Canada, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia are included in Pool B at the same time.
The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals of the event.
