View source for Sohail Abbas

{{short description|Pakistani field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name               = Sohail Abbas
| image              = Sohail Abbas, 2020.jpg
| caption = Abbas during an interview by BBC in 2020
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1977|6|9|df=y}} 
| birth_place        = [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]] 
| position           = Defender Full-back
| clubs1             = [[Habib Bank Limited field hockey team|Habib Bank]]
| years1             = 1997-2002
| nationalteam1      = [[Pakistan men's national field hockey team|Pakistan]]
| nationalyears1     = 1998-2012
| nationalcaps(goals)1 =  
| updated            = 9 August 2012
| medaltemplates     =
 |caps5=7|years5=2005|goals5=7|nationalcaps1=311|clubs6=[[HC Rotterdam]]|years6=2005-2009|caps6=114|goals6=93|clubs4=[[Harvestehuder THC]]|clubs5=[[Hyderabad Sultans]]|caps3=-|goals4=11|caps4=28|years4=2003-2004|years3=2003-2017|goals3=-|clubs3=[[Water and Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]]|goals2=7|caps2=8|goals1=-|caps1=-|years2=2002|clubs2=[[Bank Simpanan Nasional HC|BS Nasional HC]]|nationalgoals1=348}}

'''Sohail Abbas''', (born 9 June 1977) is a former professional [[field hockey]] player from [[Pakistan]] who played as a full-back for the [[Pakistan men's national field hockey team]]. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he is the [[List of men's field hockey players with 100 or more international goals|all-time second highest goal scorer]] in international [[field hockey]] and highest goal scorer in modern field hockey (artificial turf) with 348 international goals.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sports|first=A. R. Y.|date=2015-11-18|title=The legend Sohail Abbas|url=https://arysports.tv/the-legend-sohail-abbas/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=ARYSports.tv}}</ref> A [[Drag flick|drag-flick]] specialist noted for his lethal flicks with great accuracy and speed in front of goal from [[penalty corner]]s, he is widely regarded as the 'King of the drag flick'.<ref name=SR>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ab/sohail-abbas-1.html|date=28 August 2009|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Profile of Sohail Abbas|website=SR/Olympic Sports website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417093011/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ab/sohail-abbas-1.html|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=HH>{{Cite web|url=https://hockeyhooked.com/who-is-the-drag-flick-king-sohail-abbas/|title=Who is the drag flick king, Sohail Abbas?|first=Eddie|last=G|date=24 September 2019|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

Abbas started his professional career in [[Pakistan]] and played professional hockey in [[Malaysia]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]] and [[India]] in his career most notably for Dutch side [[HC Rotterdam]]. After representing Pakistan at junior levels Abbas made his international debut in the Test series against [[India men's national field hockey team|India]] in February 1998. He scored his first senior international goal in the second match of the series in a 2–1 win. Abbas has 315 caps for Pakistan and in which he scored 348 goals including 21 hat-tricks an international record. He has represented his country at [[1998 Men's Hockey World Cup|1998]], [[2002 Men's Hockey World Cup|2002]], [[2006 Men's Hockey World Cup|2006]] and [[2010 Men's Hockey World Cup|2010]] [[Men's FIH Hockey World Cup|FIH Hockey World Cups]] and the [[Field hockey at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000]], [[Field hockey at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004]] and [[Field hockey at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2012]] [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]] being the top scorer for Pakistan at both the World Cups and Olympics.

== Early life ==
Born at [[Karachi]]'s [[Holy Family Hospital, Karachi|Holy Family Hospital]], [[Soldier Bazaar]] on 9 June 1977,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/athlete/abbas-sohail-1049761/ |title=Sohail Abbas profile |website=London 2012 website (Olympics) | access-date=20 October 2020|url-status=dead |date=9 July 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801043027/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/abbas-sohail-1049761/ | archive-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> Sohail is a former pupil of [[Karachi]]'s [[Habib Public School]], the school of many other hockey stars. In fact, it has been rightly remarked that hockey is taught as a subject in this school.

He came from a sporting family; his father, Syed Iftikhar Hussain, was a former [[first-class cricket]]er. He represented [[Karachi]] as well as Pak Crescent Club, famous for producing [[Zaheer Abbas]]. Abbas is eldest of three brothers. Raheel Abbas, his younger brother, is also former professional first-class cricketer. Sohail has often said that his inspiration came from his uncle, [[Safdar Abbas]], a left-winger who represented Pakistan from 1973 to 1981 where he scored against [[Argentina]] during the [[1973 Men's Hockey World Cup|1973 World Cup]] as a 16-year-old boy. Abbas is keen to emphasize the part played by Safdar, who, Abbas says, inspired him as a [[Child|youngster]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Man, Sohail Abbas|date=29 May 2012|url=https://insider.pk/sport/hockey/the-man-sohail-abbas/}}</ref>

Abbas started playing hockey for his school and later for his college. In the beginning he played as a forward but due to his physical built and unsatisfactory performance his youth coach moved him in the defense. Dejected by this Abbas started practicing his drag-flick abilities to keep the scoring aspect of his game. Before him Pakistan played a brand of hockey that was known for its speedy forwards who created goal scoring chances from their technique not penalty-corner specialists like the European style. He started practicing solely on drag-flicks from watching old video tapes of former players and would spend hours on drag-flicks even after match practice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=An Interview with Pakistani Hockey legend – Sohail Abbas [With Audio Link]|url=http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?91209-An-Interview-with-Pakistani-Hockey-legend-Sohail-Abbas-With-Audio-Link|access-date=2021-08-30|website=pakpassion.net}}</ref>

== Club career ==

=== Domestic ===

==== HBL ====
Abbas started his professional senior career in his native [[Pakistan]] playing for his departmental team [[Habib Bank Limited field hockey team|Habib Bank]] of his hometown [[Karachi]] in the Pakistan National Hockey Championship. Abbas helped his domestic team to reach the final of the National Championship in 2001.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==== SSGC and WAPDA ====
After a brief stunt with [[Sui Southern Gas Company|SSGC]] Abbas continued playing in the Pakistan domestic season but this time for [[Water and Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]]. In the season 2003 and 2004, he won the National Hockey Championship back to back with [[Water and Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]] as captain. He returned for his departmental team in Pakistan [[Water and Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]] from Netherlands in 2009. He was top scorer in the 2009 National Hockey Championship with 16 goals and in 2010 won the [[Hockey Asian Champions Club Cup]]. He continued playing for them in the domestic season until 2017 at the age of 40.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-12-23|title=Vintage Sohail Abbas drag flick earns WAPDA late win|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1272916/vintage-sohail-abbas-drag-flick-earns-wapda-late-win|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

=== Abroad ===

==== Amsterdam HBC ====
Abbas's extraordinary talent and goal scoring prowess mean that he is a target of hockey clubs all over the world. He joined [[Dutch people|Dutch]] club [[Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club|Amsterdam HBC]] in 1999 playing the [[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey heren 1999/00|1999-2000]] season for them where he reached the semifinals, due to his commitments with the Pakistan team, Abbas only played for nine weeks and that too in two spells. He was provided with free lodging and boarding, offered a car and paid as much as 700 dollars per match.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==== Malaysia and Germany ====
In December 2002 he joined the [[Kuala Lumpur]] based side [[Bank Simpanan of Nasional HC|BS Nasional HC]] in [[Malaysia]] with whom he won the TNB Cup, the domestic cup competition and in April 2003 he played a season in the top division of [[Germany]] in the [[Men's Feldhockey Bundesliga|1.Bundesliga]] for [[Harvestehuder THC]] of [[Hamburg]]. {{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==== Hyderabad Sultans ====
In 2005 he played in the inaugural season of [[Indian Premier Hockey League]] for [[Hyderabad Sultans]]. He was the star attraction of the tournament and his team won the title.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hyderabad Sultans win PHL|url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2005/feb/13phl.htm|access-date=2021-08-25|website=rediff.com}}</ref>

==== Rotterdam HC ====

In May 2005 he made his second stint in the Netherlands after [[HC Rotterdam]] signed him for the promotion-relegation play-offs. He scored in his debut for the club as his team won the promotion to the [[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey|First Division]] for the following season. Abbas finished as top scorer for his club with 20 goals in the [[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey heren 2005/06|2005–06]] season but his team failed to reach the finals. He again finished as top scorer for Rotterdam with 22 goals in [[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey heren 2006/07|2006–07]] season helping his team finish third and securing qualification for the inaugural season of the [[Euro Hockey League]]. In 2007–08 season his team finished third both in the [[Hoofdklasse (field hockey)|Hoofdklasse]] and in the [[2007–08 Euro Hockey League|2007-08 Euro Hockey League]] where he was joint top scorer with 7 goals.

According to Abbas playing in Netherlands with Rotterdam introduced him to different style of play and technique which added to a lot to his game. During the 2005-06 as Pakistan was hit with a devastating earthquake Abbas started a fund raising mission with the approval of his club and Rotterdam city council for the victims of the tragedy. He organized friendly matches between Dutch and international sides composed of international players from Australia, Germany, and India who were also playing professional hockey in Netherlands to raise funds that were to be directly transferred to the affected region through international relief organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-10-25|title=Hockey Star Sohail Abbas on Fund-Raising Mission in Rotterdam|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/275127|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Arab News|language=en}}</ref>

==== Hong Kong ====
In 2013 Abbas signed for Punjab Sports Club to play in the semi-professional Hong Kong premier league for a season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-10-27|title=Hockey superstar Sohail Abbas left scoreless in debut in Hong Kong|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1341289/hockey-superstar-sohail-abbas-left-scoreless-debut-hong-kong|access-date=2021-08-30|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref>

== International career ==

=== Youth teams ===
As a young hockey player, his potential was not realized for some time. He had difficulty making an impact on the professional hockey leagues between 1995 and 1998. Like many Pakistani hockey players, he is a product of the Pakistan Junior Squad. An impressive performance in the 18th Junior National Hockey U18 Championship at [[Quetta]] 1995 gained him a place in Pakistan Junior squad which drew their home series 2–2 against Germany Juniors. He was not selected for the tour of [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]], playing next for [[Pakistan]] in the third Junior Asia Cup at [[Singapore]] in 1996. He staged a return to the Pakistan Junior side in 1997, a side which beat Germany Junior in four consecutive test matches.

Four months later, he was dropped from the Pakistan Junior squad. Pakistan Junior team manager [[Samiullah Khan (field hockey)|Samiullah Khan]] and coach Ayaz Mahmood were not convinced to include him for the 1997 World Cup staged in [[Milton Keynes]] – an underwhelming squad that failed to making it to the Junior World Cup semi-finals for the first time in the cup's 25-year history. Finally, he made his debut the following year on the national team and has since become arguably modern hockey's most prolific goalscorer of all time.

=== National debut ===
When he made his international debut during the 20th Pakistan-India series 1998, his role was only to come from the bench for penalty corner drills. His debut was at [[Peshawar]]'s Lala S.M. Ayub Hockey Stadium on Saturday, 28 February 1998. Pakistan manager effected a substitution midway through the tie, but failed to make an impact. He failed to score in three penalty corners as Pakistan won 4–1. The following day, on 1 March 1998, in the second test at [[Rawalpindi]]'s Army Hockey Stadium, Abbas announced his arrival on the international scene in dramatic fashion, scoring a drag flick from a penalty corner which proved to be the match-winner in Pakistan's 2–1 victory.

When the rule was changed after the [[1998 Men's Hockey World Cup|1998 World Cup]], he was not considered for the [[1998 Commonwealth Games]] by coach [[Shahnaz Sheikh]]. But he staged a comeback to win silver in [[1998 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy|1998 Hockey Champions Trophy]] in [[Lahore]] and bronze at the [[Field hockey at the 1998 Asian Games|1998 Bangkok Asian Games.]] Abbas struck 20 goals in 1998.

=== Azlan Shah triumph and record year ===
In 1999 Abbas was in terrific form. He started off the year being the top scorer in both the [[1999 India-Pakistan field hockey test series|1999 India-Pakistan test series]] with 10 goals and 1999 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with 12 goals helping Pakistan win the title for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=May 1999 Bulletin|url=http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/1999/may1999.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=bharatiyahockey.org}}</ref> He finished top scorer of the [[1999 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|1999 Hockey Asia Cup]] with 16 goals equaling the record of [[Hassan Sardar]] of most goals in an edition of the tournament in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sohail Abbas and the long list of his records!! [Archive] – PakPassion.net – Pakistan Cricket Forum|url=http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/archive/index.php/t-87995.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=pakpassion.net}}</ref> During the match against Sri Lanka he scored 7 goals in the 15–0 victory making him only the sixth player to have scored a double-hattrick for Pakistan in a match. But Pakistan finished second after losing the final to South Korea. Abbas finished the year with 60 goals breaking the record of modern hockey's most international goals in a calendar year by [[Paul Litjens]] of Netherlands, 58.

=== 2000 Olympics ===

Pakistan qualified for [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympics]] by taking part in [[2000 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier|2000 Olympic Qualifiers]] in March 2000 in [[Osaka]]. Pakistan finished second on the Japanese soil, with Sohail scoring 13 goals to finish as leading marksman. Abbas was also leading scorer at the [[2000 Olympic Games]], [[Sydney]], with 11 goals. Mixing his impressive hitting abilities with drag-flicks, Abbas has proved himself to be the world's most consistent drag-flick converter, his success rate over 65% mark. Pakistan lost the bronze medal match to hosts Australia by 6-3 finishing fourth. This as of now was the last time Pakistan played for a medal at the Olympics in hockey. His total goals in 2000 were 26.

Abbas scored a total of 37 goals in the 2001. Pakistan started off the year playing in an invitational tournament in [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]] where they finished second after losing the final to India on penalty strokes. During the tour of Europe he scored a hat-trick against South Korea in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]]. Later he was top-scorer of the [[2001 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup|2001 Sultan Azlan Shah]] Cup with 10 goals but Pakistan finished fourth. In the last assignment of the year Pakistan played in the Champions Trophy in Rotterdam where he scored another hat-trick against Germany but Pakistan again finished at fourth place

=== 2002 World Cup ===
Sohail attracted worldwide attention in 2002 when he emerged as the joint highest scorer along with Argentina's [[Jorge Lombi]] in the [[2002 Men's Hockey World Cup|10th World Cup at Kuala Lumpur]]. And all 10 goals that Abbas scored at the [[Bukit Jalil National Stadium|Bukit Jalil Stadium]] in the Malaysian capital were off PCs. He managed 44 goals in 2002 and added yet another feather to his cap in that year. [[Hassan Sardar|Hasan Sardar]] was Pakistan's top scorer with 150 goals before Abbas unveiled his goal-scoring prowess. During the Six-Nation Invitational tournament at Kuala Lumpur, a month before World Cup 2002, Sohail scored his 151st international goal, becoming Pakistan's all-time highest scorer in international hockey. He struck nine goals as Pakistan managed bronze medals in [[Field hockey at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's tournament|17th Commonwealth Games hockey tournament]] at [[Manchester]]. He struck [[hat-trick]] when Pakistan routed South Africa 10–2 in bronze-decider on 4 August 2002. Later, in the 24th CT in Cologne, Germany, Sohail played a major role and Pakistan finished third ahead of India.

=== Suspension and controversy ===
Abbas managed 28 goals in 2003 and for the sixth time running, he finished as annual leading scorer for Pakistan. He struck five goals as Pakistan met success in Ipoh's 12th Azlan Shah Cup in March 2003 but later on Pakistan went to [[Australia]] without him, [[Muhammad Nadeem]] and [[Waseem Ahmad]] as the trio had defied the [[Pakistan Hockey Federation|PHF]] by skipping the national training camp to play professional league in Germany. Sohail and [[Waseem]] represented German club [[Harvestehuder THC]] of Hamburg while Nadeem played for [[Gladbacher HTC]]. It was Abbas's third spell as pro hockey player after Dutch league 1999 and Malaysian League 2002 (he represented Bank Simpanan Nasional BSN along with Kashif Jawwad). Nadeem did return in time for the trials for the Australia-bound squad, but he was not considered for selection and Pakistan suffered embarrassment, finishing last in both twin 4-Nation tournaments at Perth and Sydney.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakistan axe Abbas, Nadeem|url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/may/14hockpak.htm|access-date=2021-08-25|website=rediff.com}}</ref>

Nadeem, later on, was reprimanded for his act while Abbas and Waseem were not allowed to appear in Pakistan-China series in July. They faced an inquiry committee on 14 July 2003 during which they regretted the mistake. Both were allowed to join the camp and seven days later were included in the team for the 25th CT. But their inclusion only came after hefty fines of Rs. 100,000 each on the players. PHF inquiry committee had also recommended a one-year ban on the duo. But PHF President Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan brought an amicable end to the controversy when he said that the under-fire players will compete in the CT in better national interest.

=== 2004 Olympics and world record ===
[[File:HOCKEY ARGENTINA PAKISTAN.jpg|thumb|Abbas (left) challenging for the ball against [[Argentina men's national field hockey team|Argentina]] at a tri nation tournament in [[Alcalá la Real|Alacalá la Real]], [[Spain]] in 2004]]
Sohail started 2004 in whirlwind fashion and won the top scorer award in 13th Azlan Shah Cup at Bukit Jalil Complex. He struck ten goals with the help of two hat tricks against India and Germany. He managed one double hat trick and 21 hat tricks in international modern hockey so far: a record unmatched in international field hockey. Sohail recorded 59 goals in 2004 and was well poised to break his own world record of most goals in calendar year (60 in 1999) before retirement. Sohail was the key figure when Pakistan won a place at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] by finishing third at the [[2004 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier|2004 Olympic Qualifiers]] in [[Madrid]] on 13 March 2004. Three times [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] Champion [[Pakistan]] also qualified Sohail was also leading marksman at Madrid with nine goals. Four of these nine goals were against India in league encounter when he converted four out of four penalty corners. At Athens, he became the record Pakistani goalscorer in a single Olympiad, beating the 10-goal record of centre-forward Hassan Sardar, created at the Los Angeles Olympiad twenty years beforehand. Only Sohail, Sardar and [[Abdul Rashid (field hockey, born 1947)|Abdul Rashid Jr.]] have topped the goal scoring-chart in Olympics hockey.

Abbas scored his 267th international goal during the Champions Trophy in [[Amritsar]], India to equal the 22-year-old record of Dutch penalty corner specialist [[Paul Litjens]] on 4 October 2004 and then on 8 October he broke the Dutchman's record.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041009/sports.htm|date=9 October 2004|newspaper=The Tribune (India)|title=Sohail claims record as Pakistan clinch series|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://dailytimes.com.pk/182490/dutch-hockey-legend-bovelander-happy-visiting-pakistan/ Dutch hockey legend Bovelander happy to be visiting Pakistan again] Daily Times, Published 17 January 2018, Retrieved 27 May 2021</ref> He retired in December 2004, just after the [[2004 Men's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|Champions Trophy]] in [[Lahore]] along with another Pakistani great [[Waseem Ahmad]], when he was only 27 years of age but on 4 July 2006, he decided to return to the international hockey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060706/sports.htm#9|date=6 July 2006|newspaper=The Tribune (India)|title=Sohail Abbas comes out of retirement|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> Since the summer of 2005 he and [[Waseem]] have both played for Dutch club [[Rotterdam]]. He struck his 33rd goal to break [[Mark Hager]]'s 9-year-old record. His 33rd goal emerged from penalty-mark when he converted 66th-minute penalty-stroke against India in Pakistan's 2–1 win on fourth day of 26th [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]]. The Australian striker had registered 32 goals from 1985 to 1995. He took 11 editions for his 32 goals while Sohail did the needful in his 6th CT and added another on 12 December tie to make his final Champions' Trophy total 34. Abbas immediately after the end of 2004 announced his retirement from international hockey saying he wants to retire while at his best form while keeping to option to come back if the national team needs him for major tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=You must retire when you are on top|url=https://www.rediff.com/sports/2005/mar/03hinter.htm|access-date=2021-08-30|website=rediff.com}}</ref>

=== Coming out of retirement and 2006 World Cup ===
After retiring form the national team he missed all of the 2005 campaigns even the [[2006 Men's Intercontinental Cup (field hockey)|2006 World Cup qualification]] in [[China]] but he was recalled for the tour of Europe and the [[2006 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy|2006 Champions Trophy]] before the World Cup. Pakistan finished a disappointing sixth at the [[2006 Men's Hockey World Cup|2006 World Cup]] in [[Germany]].

=== Comeback year and 2010 World Cup ===

After remaining out of national setup for two years and missing the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]] Abbas was called back into the national squad for the [[2009 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|2009 Hockey Asia Cup]] where Pakistan lost the final to South Korea. Abbas helped secure qualification for the 2010 World Cup by winning the qualifiers in [[Lille, France|Lille]], [[France]], and later finished silver in the [[2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I|Hockey Champions Challenge I]] in [[Argentina]]. Despite good performances in the test series with Netherlands in previous months Pakistan finished their worst 12th at the [[2010 Men's Hockey World Cup|2010 World Cup]] in [[New Delhi]] managing to win just a match. 
Abbas first Major Gold Medal was in [[2010 Asian Games]] held in [[China]]. Abbas's finest moment for Pakistan continued to be the [[2010 Asian Games]] as he was part of the team which beat South Korea 4–3 on penalty strokes. Abbas however missed his penalty. Malaysia defeated India 4–3 and played Pakistan in the final. On 25 November 2010 the Malaysia v Pakistan final started during the 28th minute of the match Abbas scored a penalty corner to give Pakistan a 1–0 lead. [[Rehan Butt]] scored a goal 4 minutes after half time to extend the lead to 2–0. Malaysia failed to score and the whistle blew with Pakistan winning the 2010 Asian Games Hockey Tournament. This became Pakistan's first victory at the Asian Games since 1990 and their first victory in a major international tournament since the [[1994 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy|1994 Champions Trophy]]. The 16-year drought ended and Pakistan and Sohail Abbas put a poor World Cup and Commonwealth Games behind them to give their country their first major trophy in 16 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sohail|first=Abbas|title=Pakistan win the 2010 Asian Games hockey tournament, it's the first title in 16 years for Pakistan|newspaper=The News International (newspaper) website|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest-news/5475.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128105533/http://www.thenews.com.pk//latest-news//5475.htm|archive-date=28 November 2010}}</ref>

=== Captaincy and 2012 Olympics ===
Abbas remained part of the team setup with the Olympics in mind. In 2011 he scored 19 goals for Pakistan. After serving Pakistan for almost 14 years, Abbas was awarded the captaincy of the national hockey side for the first time in the [[Azlan Shah Cup]] and [[London Olympics 2012]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sohail named Pakistan captain|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/14-May-2012/sohail-named-pakistan-captain|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620114728/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/sports/14-May-2012/sohail-named-pakistan-captain|archive-date=20 June 2012|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> Abbas's side ended 7th (last) in the Azlan Shah 2012 tournament.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Similarly, they ended the Olympics at the 7th position despite starting off with a draw against Spain. Sohail was dropped from the team after the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan end 7th in Olympics|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/PHF-drops-Sohail-Abbas-Rehan-Butt-from-probables-of-Champions-Trophy/articleshow/16967214.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216064946/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-26/top-stories/34751922_1_phf-secretary-sohail-abbas-asif-bajwa|archive-date=16 February 2013|access-date=4 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Later he announced his retirement from the national side.

=== Post-retirement ===
Despite multiple coaching offers from PHF Sohail declined taking part in any program working under the Pakistan Hockey management and kept a low profile. In October 2024 he took his first coaching role as an assistant coach for penalty corners for the Malaysia national team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BERNAMA |date=2024-01-10 |title=Pakistan Hockey Legend Sohail Abbas Appointed as Assistant Coach For Speedy Tigers |url=https://bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2346785 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=BERNAMA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Malaysia Appoints Pakistani Hockey Legend as Assistant Coach |url=https://propakistani.pk/2024/10/02/malaysia-appoints-pakistani-hockey-legend-as-assistant-coach/}}</ref>

== Player profile ==
Sohail can easily be regarded as the best short corner expert in world hockey. Argentina's [[Jorge Lombi]] and Netherlands's [[Taeke Taekema]] are second in line. He is a natural short corner expert with a very strong wrist, a powerful drag flick and a perfected dummy "body dodge" action. He was Pakistani candidate for the FIH Player of the Year award in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004.

{{Quote box
| quote = "Sohail Abbas is the king of penalty corner because of his goal scoring record. He scored the most goals from penalty corners, so definitely he is the best in the world,"
| author = [[Taeke Taekema]] – Dutch drag-flick specialist
| align = right
}}

Time spent in Netherlands him tone his skills and he pays warm tribute to the club boss Jons Hanset, who helped make his stay enjoyable.

Twelve goals in 5 matches and helped his team qualify for the play-offs was no mean feat and he has no hesitation in stating that Netherlands remains his favorite country to visit. Close to his mother, he describes her as "my greatest supporter. I credit her with all I have achieved."

Many of Sohail's contemporaries were in awe of his performances. Former India goal keeper, [[Jude Menezes]] recalls that Abbas was so confident of his ability that he could tell his opposing number which section of the goal he would target, and still make the shot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22789557/meetings-beatings|title=Meetings and beatings|date=16 March 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

=== Records ===
Sohail Abbas holds the following records in field hockey:

'''WORLD RECORDS:'''
*Highest goals scorer in modern field hockey with 348 goals.
*Highest number of goals in modern field hockey in a calendar year: 60 goals in 1999
* Fastest to score 100 goals in modern international hockey: two years six months and 18 days.
* Fastest to score 200 goals in modern international hockey: five years five months and 16 days.
* Highest number of goals in a single edition of Asia Cup
*He has scored a record 21 modern field hockey international hat tricks including one double hat trick.

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="6" |Domestic
|-
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season
! colspan="3" |League
! rowspan="2" |Ref
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Habib Bank Limited field hockey team|Habib Bank]]
|1997
| rowspan="5" |National Hockey Championship
| -
| -
|
|-
|1998
| -
| -
|
|-
|1999
| -
| -
|
|-
|2001
| -
| -
|
|-
|2002
| -
| -
|
|-
|[[Water & Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]]
|2003
|National Hockey Championship
| -
| -
|
|-
|[[SSGC HC|SSGC]]
|2004
|National Hockey Championship
| -
| -
|
|-
| rowspan="10" |[[Water & Power Development Authority field hockey team|WAPDA]]
|2004
| rowspan="10" |National Hockey Championship
| -
| -
|
|-
|2009
| -
| -
|
|-
|2010
| -
| -
|
|-
|2011
| -
| -
|
|-
|2012
| -
| -
|
|-
|2013
| -
| -
|
|-
|2014
| -
| -
|
|-
|2015
| -
| -
|
|-
|2016
| -
| -
|
|-
|2017
| -
| -
|
|-
! colspan="6" |Abroad
|-
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season
! colspan="3" |League
! rowspan="2" |Ref
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|[[Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club|Amsterdam HBC]]
|1999
|[[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey|Hoofdklasse]]
|24
|14
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-24|title=Topscorers Hoofdklasse Heren seizoen 1999/2000|url=http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2000.html|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024065443/http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2000.html|archive-date=24 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[Bank Simpanan of Nasional HC|BS Nasional HC]]
|2002
|[[Malaysia Hockey League]]
|8
|7
|
|-
|[[Hyderabad Sultans]]
|2005
|[[Indian Premier Hockey League]]
|7
|7
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |[[HC Rotterdam]]
|2004-2005
|[[Overgangsklasse (field hockey)|Overgangsklasse]]
|2
|1
|
|-
|2005-2006
| rowspan="2" |[[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey|Hoofdklasse]]
|22
|20
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-24|title=Topscorers Heren Rabo Hoofdklasse KNHB 2005/2006|url=http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2006.html|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024065026/http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2006.html|archive-date=24 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2006-2007
|27
|22
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-21|title=Topscorers Heren Rabo Hoofdklasse KNHB 2006/2007|url=http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2007.html|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021064554/http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2007.html|archive-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007-2008
|[[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey|Hoofdklasse]]
|25
|22
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-21|title=Topscorers Heren Rabo Hoofdklasse KNHB 2007/2008|url=http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2008.html|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021071722/http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2008.html|archive-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[Euro Hockey League]]
|7
|7
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2008-2009
|[[:nl:Hoofdklasse hockey|Hoofdklasse]]
|26
|19
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-21|title=Topscorers Heren Rabo Hoofdklasse KNHB 2008/2009|url=http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2009.html|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021065616/http://archief.hoofdklassehockey.nl/htoppers2009.html|archive-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[Euro Hockey League]]
|6
|2
|
|}

=== International ===
{{Further|List of international goals scored by Sohail Abbas}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |[[Pakistan men's national field hockey team|Pakistan]]
|-
!Year
!Caps
!Goals
|-
|1998
|31
|20
|-
|1999
|36
|60
|-
|2000
|21
|26
|-
|2001
|29
|37
|-
|2002
|36
|44
|-
|2003
|21
|30
|-
|2004
|50
|59
|-
|2006
|16
|14
|-
|2009
|15
|17
|-
|2010
|14
|10
|-
|2011
|26
|21
|-
|2012
|16
|10
|-
!Total
!311
!348
|}

== See also ==
*[[Pakistan Hockey Federation]]
*[[List of Pakistani field hockey players]]
*[[List of men's field hockey players with 100 or more international goals]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pakistan-hockey.com/sohail-abbas.php Sohail Abbas]
*{{Sports links}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Sohail Abbas &ndash; International Tournaments
| state = autocollapse
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|list1=
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}  
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2006 World Cup}}
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2010 World Cup}}
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2011 Champions Trophy}}
{{Pakistan FH Squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbas, Sohail}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pakistani male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1998 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Karachi]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Male field hockey defenders]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Asian Games field hockey players for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games field hockey players for Pakistan]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:HC Rotterdam players]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate field hockey players]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani sportsmen]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in field hockey]]