India and Pakistan, once fierce rivals in hockey, will face off again at the Asian Champions Trophy. However, the rivalry has waned in recent years due to India’s dominance and Pakistan’s decline.
Since 2016, India has won 14 of 17 matches against Pakistan, with two draws and one washout. This lopsidedness is attributed to India’s consistent investment in foreign professionals and high-performance programs.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has faced financial and administrative challenges, leading to missed Olympic and World Cup appearances. The lack of domestic tournaments and the dismantling of departmental hockey have further hindered their progress.
Despite the imbalance, Pakistan captain Ammad Butt remains optimistic about giving India a tough fight. He acknowledges India’s strengths, particularly drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, but believes Pakistan can succeed by applying pressure.
Former World Cup winner Tahir Zaman, now Pakistan’s head coach, emphasizes the need for proper infrastructure and national-level high-performance centers to address the gap between the two teams.
While India has participated in numerous domestic and international tournaments in recent years, Pakistan has had limited opportunities. This disparity in training and competition has contributed to the decline of Pakistan’s hockey prowess.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan is working to revive departmental hockey and improve player welfare. However, Zaman acknowledges that it will take time and effort to rebuild the team’s competitiveness.
