Peshawar, August 12, 2026: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has a deep pool of hockey talent, but poor infrastructure, shrinking sports quotas and limited institutional support continue to hold young players back.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association President Syed Zahir Shah said the province continues to produce players capable of representing Pakistan despite major challenges.

Shah, who also serves as a vice-president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, pointed to recent trials as evidence of the province’s potential. Around 160 players from across KP took part in the selection process.

“The association creates players while the infrastructure is provided by the government,” Shah said.

He said the province needs greater investment to help young players develop their skills and compete at higher levels.

Shah also expressed disappointment with the performance of previous governments in supporting sports. He said he had expected greater backing from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government because former prime minister Imran Khan had a background in sport.

However, he said those expectations did not materialise.

Pakistan once maintained a much stronger hockey talent pipeline. According to Shah, the country had enough players to form second- and third-choice squads behind the national team.

He attributed much of the decline to the gradual disappearance of sports quotas in educational institutions and employment opportunities for athletes.

Shah recalled that several educational institutions in Peshawar once reserved seats specifically for sportspersons.

Engineering College Peshawar had six sports seats, while Khyber Medical College had two, he said. Government Degree College Peshawar and Islamia College Peshawar also supported athletes through reserved seats.

Those opportunities gave talented players a clear path from school and college hockey into competitive sport.

Shah also highlighted the role that government departments, banks and public-sector organisations once played in supporting athletes.

National Bank, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Customs, WAPDA, PTCL, UBL and HBL were among the organisations that supported hockey teams and provided employment opportunities to players.

“PIA alone had three hockey teams, while every bank had a policy to support sportspersons,” Shah said.

He argued that the disappearance of departmental teams has left many talented athletes without a career path.

Shah called for the revival of departmental hockey teams and the restoration of sports quotas in educational institutions.

He proposed reserving at least five seats for talented athletes in every degree college.

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The association president also urged authorities to revive school-level hockey. He described school hockey as the foundation of Pakistan’s wider hockey system.

According to Shah, stronger school competitions would give young players regular opportunities to train, compete and develop before moving into higher-level hockey.

The province’s recent trials suggest that interest in the sport remains strong. The challenge now lies in creating a system that can turn that talent into sustained national-level success.

With better facilities, educational opportunities and institutional support, KP could strengthen Pakistan’s hockey pipeline and give its young players a clearer route to the national team.