Pakistan men's hockey team coaching staff fired after Asian Champions Trophy failure | Asian Games

Ahead of the quadrennial Asian Games, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has reportedly sacked the entire coaching staff of the men's hockey team following a poor show in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy (ACT).

Pakistan failed to make it to the final four at the continental hockey event, which was eventually won by India.

Shahnaz Sheikh has been named the new head coach but the move has courted controversy as Sheikh was part of the committee that sacked the coaching staff.

Originally, Sheikh was also named a consultant for the hockey team and was to travel to India for Asian Champions Trophy, however, the PHF reportedly could not obtain a visa for him in time.

Irked by PHF's inability to get him a visa and Pakistan's exit in the round robin league, Sheikh and other former Olympians Akhtar Rasool and Islahuddin Siddiqui, supported the Pakistan Sports Board's (PSB) decision to dissolve the PHF.

Now, Sheikh's appointment has puzzled the sports fraternity as the PHF was dissolved by the PSB so it remains unclear who is authorised to make decisions concerning the men's hockey team.

(with PTI inputs)