Former captain Shahbaz Ahmed Sr believes that the primary reason for the downfall of the sporting structure in the country is the lack of support from the government.

The sports governing bodies have received severe criticism in the last few days after it is becoming increasingly likely that Pakistan will not be able to win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2021.

While talking to Bol News, the former World Cup-winning captain stated that irrelevant people are overseeing sporting activities in the country

“The government is not spending enough to promote the industry,” he said. “Pakistan is full of talent but there is no system. If we spend on athletes like Talha Talib [weightlifter] and Arshad Nadeem [javelin thrower], they can win us medals. But unfortunately, irrelevant people are overseeing sports activities in the country.”

Talking about the state of affairs of hockey in the country, the 52-year-old believes that to win a big event, there must be a complete overhaul of the structure.

“Players need a better diet to play on AstroTurf and hockey gear is expensive now,” said Shahbaz. “We need a complete overhaul of the structure where academies are established, players will be taken care of in terms of finances and then we will be able to nurture the talent. It is impossible to improve hockey without taking these steps.”