PESHAWAR: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Mohiuddin Wani has raised concerns over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s limited representation in the national hockey team, stating that only three players from the province have secured spots despite the presence of 15 synthetic AstroTurf facilities.

He made the remarks during a meeting with players and sports organizers from KP, where the issue of provincial representation in the national squad was discussed. Wani described the situation as concerning and noted that athletes from other provinces are also facing similar challenges in gaining national selection.

The delegation was led by Olympian Rahim Khan and included senior journalist Amjad Aziz Malik, international player Abdul Rauf Khan, Shafqat Ullah, organizer Tufail Khan, Bashir Khan, Murad Khan, Akhtar Zeb and Naveed Khan.

Focus on institutional teams and employment

During the meeting, the PHF president said directives have been issued to institutions across the country to establish hockey teams and create employment opportunities for players. According to him, institutional backing is essential to revive the sport and provide stability to emerging talent.

Wani emphasized that merit-based selection and transparency remain central to ongoing reforms within the federation. He expressed hope that the national team would perform strongly in the upcoming World Cup qualifying round.

He also assured members of the KP delegation that their concerns would be reviewed and said broader development initiatives would be prioritized after preparations for the qualifiers are completed.

Earlier, Rahim Khan briefed the PHF president on the challenges facing hockey in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and formally invited him to visit Peshawar. Wani accepted the invitation.