World hockey body to update statistics of India-Pakistan matches
Statistics of India versus Pakistan hockey bilateral series, which were missing from the head-to-head statistics collated from the statistical partner of the sport’s world governing body, will soon be included in the database.
Hockey fans in India and Pakistan can heave a sigh of relief.
Statistics of India versus Pakistan hockey bilateral series, which were missing from the head-to-head statistics collated from the statistical partner of the sport’s world governing body, will soon be included in the database.
According to the FIH, the database includes statistics collated from only 2012 onwards and the FIH will soon update pre-2012 statistics.
“TMS data is accurate for every match from 2013 until today’s date. Historic data from 2012 and earlier is currently in the process of being digitalised by FIH therefore all matches between both nations before 2012 may not yet be listed,” the FIH clarified in an e-mail response to HT.
There was some concern on Monday as a major chunk of India-Pakistan hockey history was excluded from the database as the statistics provided by the Asian Champions Trophy organisers only included record of 47 matches and not 166 played between the two arch rivals. The data was compiled from the database created using TMS Data of FIH and AltiusRt and did not have a disclaimer that the stats were only from 2013 onwards.
“FIH understands the importance of data and statistics not only for media but also for athletes and sports fans, which is why we are undertaking considerable investment in data. Digitalising historic match records is just one part of this extensive project,” it said.
It is a fact that hockey fans and experts have not been as statistically-minded as cricket and therefore the administrators too have been lax in keeping record. Also, with many more countries playing the game than cricket, keeping track of statistics is an onerous task.
FIH’s attempt to create a database in association with AltiusRt is a commendable job. Now all the stakeholders have to use this database to make hockey an experience worth remembering.