Hockey: It's a shame Pakistan refused India's support
They may be termed as the "best of enemies". But a defeat on the turf against the arch rivals is unthinkable. There are also calls from time to time to forge a united front comprising India and Pakistan and somehow bring back the glory days of sub-continental hockey.
The recent offer from Hockey India to provide monetary assistance to its counterpart across the border, and Pakistan’s subsequent refusal, should be seen in this light.
Pakistan hockey officials and players preach Asian bonhomie at the drop of a hat, but nothing embarrasses them more than accepting Indian help. It is the ultimate insult, worse than not qualifying for the World Cup or not having money to hold a training camp.
India and Pakistan once ruled the sport, but those days are now ancient history. The last time either nation won a major hockey tournament was in 1994, when Pakistan won both the World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
The balance of power has long shifted to Europe and the Antipodes. India and Pakistan are ranked ninth and tenth respectively, with the top five spots filled by Australia and the European sides.
India-Pakistan matches are still spectacles attracting fans and goals due to the unique flair and free-flowing attacking verve that the players possess. Even at the Olympics, World Cup or Champions Trophy, these contests are sold out, even though Australia, Germany and the Netherlands are usually left standing when the big prizes are to be decided.
India, by dint of a big traditional fan base and sponsor interest, still has the biggest market for the sport. Every year, the International Hockey Federation conducts a tournament in the country to exploit the commercial possibilities.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has no such luxuries. Teams don’t tour there due to security concerns, and the vagaries of bilateral ties ensure that none of their players feature in the lucrative Hockey India League. This has resulted in sponsorship drying up over time.
They are also prone to shooting themselves in the foot. After beating India in the Champions Trophy semi-finals in Bhubaneswar in December, their obscene celebration directed at the local spectators and the media lost them many friends in the country.
For Hockey India to offer financial help despite the recent ill-feeling was a big opportunity for Pakistan. They have not yet qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, unlike their neighbours, and cannot afford to miss out on another big event.
If they were indeed short of funds, it made sense to accept India’s offer. The sport, and Asian hockey in particular, needs a strong Pakistan challenging for big honours.
Without competing against the best, talented Pakistan players will remain stagnant and there will be virtually no chance for them to improve their ranking.
India has made significant improvement over the last few years, and even though they are still some way off to reach the top of the game, it provides a big enough market and television viewership to attract the best. Pakistan needs to make the best use of what they have got. They are certainly not in a position to refuse help.
Old timers in the subcontinent lament about the dominance of Europeans and Australians in the game once synonymous with India and Pakistan. It may be too much to expect a return to those heady days, as the sport has gone through a complete metamorphosis. But the former giants need to work together if the unique brand of hockey that ruled the world decades ago is to be kept alive.