Hockey League to help regain lost glory: Shahbaz Sr.

ISLAMABAD -- World Cup-winning skipper Shahbaz Ahmed Senior has asked Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to work on holding the Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) to achieve self-autarky.

'I believe that sooner or later the federation would have to hold the league. I'll suggest it that it is the high time to start working on the league,' Shahbaz told reporter.

The PHL was announced in 2016 but the project was postponed due to various reasons.

'Besides benefiting PHF financially, the league will prove a landmark in regaining the lost glory of hockey and will help rebuild our supremacy in the game,' Shahbaz said.

Shahbaz said if PHF could generate enough money from the league to manage annual commitments of the game, then they would not have to ask the higher authorities for grants.

'A facility like National Hockey Academy should be established in Islamabad where we can train players the whole year around having basic facilities like pool, gym, education and a hostel for the players," he said.

Shahbaz, who was the only player to win two consecutive 'Player of the Tournament' awards...