Pakistan hockey’s slide began at home, says Salman Akbar, points to India’s turnaround

Salman Akbar attributes Pakistan's hockey decline to a weak domestic structure. India invested in its grassroots and domestic ecosystem after 2008 Olympic failure. This sustained investment led to significant international successes for Indian hockey. Pakistan's return to the World Cup follows an eight-year absence from the event. The upcoming India-Pakistan match offers Pakistan a chance to end a long winless streak.