Akhtar Rasool Chaduahry, chief manager and head coach of Pakistan's national hockey team, on Tuesday resigned from his post after the national team's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup in Holland, first time since the start of the mega event in 1971, officials said.

Former Olympian Chaudhary sent his resignation to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) saying that it is the right time for leaving the position for younger people.

"I have served Pakistan hockey enough and now is the time for young people to come forward and contribute in the revival of the game," Chaudhary said while talking to local media.

The decision came after analysts and former Olympians started a media campaign against the current setup under whose management Pakistan team failed to qualified for the World Cup.

Chaudhary rejected the reports that he resigned due to team's poor show in the Asia Cup. "It is not the matter, I have some other jobs to do in future. Our team played good but sadly missed chances," said the former hockey Olympian.

Pakistan, having won the World Cup four times, had to clinch the title of the 9th Asia Cup tournament to qualify for the next year's World Cup. But the team lost to defending Champion South Korea in the semifinal by a small margin last month.

Pakistan won its all pool matches with big margins and showed their enthusiasm to clinch the Asian title to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but their campaign ended when South Korea defeated them in semis by 2-1. Pakistan succeeded to win the bronze medal (third position) in the tournament by defeating the hosts side by 3-1.



Earlier on Sept. 11, the secretary general of the PHF Asif Bajwa had resigned from his position.

After Bajwa quit, local media have been reporting for last couple of weeks that big changes in the management would also take place and Chaudhary might also be asked to resign from the position.

The PHF will appoint new head coach and manager in this week.