It is easy to put all the blame on financial restraints for the poor performances shown on the hockey field — those factors are legit — but skill and ability must also be taken into some account.

Hockey being Pakistan’s national game has been more of an embarrassment for the country lately, the failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in the game's history is an unforgiving blot on the Greenshirts. But should everything be put down to the financial troubles?

Over the years, Pakistan has not only lost its ‘golden touch’, something which experts used to describe Pakistan’s style of playing, but also confidence and self-belief.

Hockey legend and Olympian, Samiullah, said it would “take us years to match the standard of the European teams … While the Europeans have progressed by leaps and bounds”, Pakistan only lagged behind in every aspect of the game.

Samiullah, dubbed the ‘Flying Horse’ for his much-storied pace on the hockey pitch, said England had exposed Pakistan's falling standards after the Greenshirts were hammered 8-2 by England in the recently concluded Champions Trophy.