Pakistan’s talented hockey athletes will be eagerly aiming to showcase their skills to the national selectors as the 4th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) All Pakistan Hockey Tournament 2025 commenced at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
The Pakistan hockey team confronts a busy international schedule in the upcoming months. The team is prepared to make its debut in the FIH Pro League, competing in 16 matches, two each, both at home and away, against eight of the top global teams from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, and London.
In early March, Pakistan will vie for a prized position in the upcoming Hockey World Cup set to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Pakistan’s head coach Tahir Zaman aims to identify new talent in the national eight-team tournament, which plays a vital role in the selection process.
National Coach Eyes Fresh Talent for World Cup & Pro League
“Our forthcoming obligations consist of a best-of-three series with Bangladesh, which is included in the pre-World Cup qualifier stage. This series will take place in either October or early November. “During this tournament, we have the chance to evaluate our talent pool,” Tahir Zaman shared with Nukta in a one-on-one conversation at the National Hockey Stadium Lahore.
“We will monitor certain previously identified boys, assess their physical fitness, and also look for new, young talent.” Our goal is to invite talented players to our national training camp. “The timing of this tournament is perfect, as I previously stated,” Tahir remarked.
He additionally highlighted the importance of local competitions in reinforcing the base of hockey in Pakistan.
“These local competitions are vital.” If we do not improve our national hockey framework, we won’t be able to raise our performance to align with international benchmarks. Lacking this, creating a competitive national team turns into a significant hurdle. “Once more, we are extremely grateful to the Pakistan Navy for hosting this event,” stated Tahir, who is also a former Olympian.
Focus on Midfield, Defence and Youth-Experience Balance
The coaching team is searching for players in every role.
“From goalkeeper to central defense, midfield, and attack, we are looking for skilled players in all roles.” We aim to form a harmonious blend of youth and experience. “We need seasoned players to mentor the younger ones and assist in keeping the game’s tempo,” he stated.
The midfield, especially, is being closely examined.
“Especially in the midfield, which serves as the foundation of hockey, we are eager to recognize strong players.” This is a crucial priority for us. Historically, Pakistan’s strongest performances have frequently resulted from robust midfield play. In the attacking zone, due to our skill-oriented approach to hockey, we frequently discover players who excel in ball handling and scoring goals. “However, our focus will be on scouting because midfielders must be playmakers and strategists,” Tahir remarked.
He also emphasized the necessity of cultivating defenders with specialized abilities.
“Moreover, in the deep defence position, we seek players with excellent flicking abilities who can be further developed and may possibly join the national team,” he quickly noted.
Preparing for Pro League and World Cup
In the future, the timetable for the Pro League and World Cup qualifiers provides Pakistan with essential preparation time.
“Looking forward, the launch of the Pakistan Pro League in December, along with segments in February and June in London, Australia, and Argentina, holds great importance.” The initial phase will start in December, with the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for late February. “This timetable offers an excellent chance to get ready for the World Cup by competing with leading international teams,” Tahir stated.
“Our involvement in the Pro League considerably alters our competitive schedule.” Competing in 16 games against the best eight teams globally provides essential experience. “Despite being a demanding and somewhat chaotic timetable, it provides Pakistan hockey with exactly what it required: a venue for consistent high-level competition,” he stated.
Tahir stays hopeful regarding the team’s prospects.“Our boys possess great potential and skill.” Competing with the best is essential for enhancing game intelligence and match temperament. The Pro League offers us that chance. Tahir mentioned, “With ongoing involvement, I believe that in two to three tournaments, Pakistan will once more be recognized among the leading teams globally.”
“There are seven qualification spots open for the World Cup, and I am optimistic that Pakistan will clinch one.” Our primary attention is on the best-of-three series with Bangladesh. Tahir expressed hope, stating, “If our preparations proceed as expected and we deliver the appropriate training for the boys, I believe we will secure a spot in the World Cup.”
The coaching staff is organizing a systematic method for training following the CNS tournament.
“We intend to begin our national training camp in mid-October following this tournament.” The camp will take place in two stages. We aim to keep it from being too lengthy to prevent overtraining. When we sense the players require a rest, we will provide them with time to recover before continuing training. Tahir concluded, “It’s crucial for the camp to stay productive and not turn counterproductive because of exhaustion.”
The CNS tournament consists of eight teams split into two groups. Group A comprises Customs, Navy, NBP, and Port Qasim Authority. Group B includes Army, PAF, Rangers, and Mari Energies.
The leading two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals, taking place on October 2, whereas the final and third-place match are set for October 4.
The event was officially launched by Rear Admiral Sohail Ahmad Azmie, Commander Central Punjab of the Pakistan Navy, who struck the ball during a stylish opening ceremony. The gathering was graced by several ex-Olympians, such as Shehbaz Senior and Akhtar Rasool.
