The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially unveiled a new coaching structure for its senior, junior, and under-18 national hockey teams in a major move aimed at strengthening the country’s hockey system and rebuilding its international competitiveness.
According to the announcement, Olympian Manzoor-ul-Hassan has been appointed as the head coach of the senior national team. He will be supported by a strong panel of experienced former internationals including Khawaja Junaid, Wasim Ahmed, Adnan Zakir, Mazhar Abbas, and Shakeel Abbasi, bringing a mix of tactical expertise and international experience to the setup.
For the junior national team, Ayaz Mahmood has been named head coach. He will be assisted by Sameer Hussain, Azfar Yaqoob, and Imran Butt, who are expected to focus on developing young talent and preparing players for transition to senior-level hockey.
Meanwhile, the under-18 squad will be led by Qamar Ibrahim as head coach, with Rehan Butt, Yasir Islam, and Umar Bhutta forming part of the coaching staff. The youth setup is expected to play a key role in long-term player development and grassroots strengthening.
PHF stated that the restructuring is part of a broader strategy to revive Pakistan hockey by improving coaching standards, strengthening player development pathways, and ensuring better coordination across all levels of the national system.
The federation believes this new setup will help restore Pakistan’s standing in international hockey and create a more sustainable performance-driven structure for the future
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