International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Tayyab Ikram has boldly declared that he would like to see India and Pakistan resume their legendary hockey rivalry “tomorrow” if given the chance. The two nations, once fierce competitors on the field, haven’t faced each other in a bilateral hockey Test series for 18 years. This absence has been attributed to the political tensions between the countries.
While acknowledging the role of government and political considerations in the resumption of bilateral series, Ikram, a Pakistani-born administrator now a citizen of Macau, strongly advocates for the return of these matches. “For us, given a choice, we want to start tomorrow with a bilateral hockey series between India and Pakistan. It is good for both India and Pakistan, and world hockey,” he stated in an exclusive interview with PTI.
The last bilateral series between the two neighbours was held in 2006, with Pakistan emerging victorious 3-1. Since then, they have only faced each other in international tournaments.
Ikram, who is poised to be elected unopposed for a second term as FIH president at the 49th Congress in Muscat, Oman on November 9, also expressed concern about the state of Pakistan hockey. He attributes the decline to a lack of financial resources. “I don’t see Pakistan hockey has downgraded, it is all about lack of resources. I feel for the players. They are a strong team but today, without a strong financial model, you cannot have a high-performance structure,” he said.
Meanwhile, India has established itself as a key partner for the FIH, attracting sponsorships and hosting global events. Ikram highlighted India’s commitment to the sport: “India is a strong partner and a very important stakeholder. India reflects hockey values and India has a lot of things to offer. I personally believe India is playing their part in every aspect, including hosting events globally.”
He also revealed that discussions are underway to host future FIH events in India. The Junior World Cup is already scheduled for next year in India, and further events are being considered. The FIH has allocated a window for the revival of the Hockey India League (HIL) from the last week of December to the first week of February.
The FIH chief stressed that the traditional 11-a-side hockey remains the main focus of the world body, while Hockey 5s, a shorter, more accessible format, serves as a tool to popularize the sport among smaller nations. “For me Hockey 5s is a very accessible model and it provides a different angle to our sport. People can compete at any level… This is a very global approach that they are part of the World Cup. Secondly, considering the infrastructure, some countries cannot participate in 11-a-side hockey. So, Hockey 5s provide that kind of opportunity for our athletes to play globally,” he explained.
Ikram emphasized that the FIH’s priority is to provide opportunities for federations of all levels. “Our primary focus at this point of time in Olympic Games is 11-a-side hockey,” he added.
Regarding the sport’s standing in the Olympic movement, the FIH chief assured that hockey remains “stable.” “Hockey has been a global sport, it has a lot of values, it is a family sport, social sport. We are a member of the Olympic movement and we are very stable in the programme,” he stated.
However, he acknowledges that the sport needs broader global attention. “The top countries are taking care of the sport but we have 140 plus members right now and we need to cater to them… That is our first priority, to engage and empower the smaller nations because with them, we can be a bigger and stronger federation.”
