BENGALURU: Think Pakistan hockey and images of flair and artistic display the country was once synonymous with flash across the mind. But since winning the 2010 Asian Games gold, the team has slid from global relevance. They hit rock bottom when they failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics this year. Currently ranked 16th in the world, hockey in Pakistan is plagued by internal squabble, mismanagement and lack of funds.
The ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in China is their first major outing in recent times. Before the tournament, chief coach Roelant Oltmans called it quits and one of Pakistan's best-known past masters, Tahir Zaman, stepped in.
