Lahore: Pakistan Hockey Team head coach Tahir Zaman emphasized the importance of participating in the FIH Pro League on Wednesday and called it essential for securing a place in the top 10 of the world ranking.
Tahir said to the media in Lahore and pointed out that the lack of experience of the national team against top layer is an important reason behind the overwhelming versions.
“We are not playing against top teams at the moment. Our players miss the experience, and that is why we have struggling when we come across a higher side in a final or an important game.
“This is clearly clear at both senior and junior levels in recent years,” he said.
Tahir emphasized that regular participation in the Pro League is crucial, because it not only helps to improve the ranking, but also gives players valuable match experience.
“To mentally strengthen players and give them exposure, it is essential to play against top teams. We cannot improve unless we play it above us.
“Even if we suffer heavy defeats in the Pro League, it is a necessary investment to stay one of the top ten countries,” he added.
The head coach expressed optimism that Pakistan’s participation in the FIH Pro League would also support the qualification for global tournaments.
“If we only play two seasons of the Pro League, I am convinced that our world ranking will improve considerably. It’s not just about ranking; the Pro League also contributes directly to the qualification for global events,” Tahir noted.
He clarified the misconception about the event that was at home and gone with excessively high editions.
“That model has now changed. The costs have fallen considerably. Earlier one season could cost around RS 350 million, but now teams no longer have to travel to each other’s countries under the house-and-road format,” he explained.
“No team is coming to Pakistan for the Pro League, but we can play at a home-and-away basis within mini tournaments, probably being held in Argentina or Europe.
“The general costs of the Pro League have fallen considerably, this must be clearly understood,” he concluded.
Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.
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