Pakistan depart for Hockey World Cup
Photo: PHF
Pakistan’s national hockey team on Sunday departed for the Netherlands to compete in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, returning to the global showpiece after missing the 2023 edition in India.
The four-time world champions face a demanding Pool D campaign alongside traditional rivals India, England and Wales, with their first-round matches scheduled in Amstelveen.
Pakistan chief selector and former Olympian Samiullahremained cautious about the team’s prospects but said a ‘spirited performance’ could help the side produce a respectable campaign.
“Although I don’t have much hope, but if the boys play spiritedly, better results could be pulled off,” Samiullah told The Express Tribune.
“England and India are tough teams and even Wales are not a bad side. In the Pro League, we played two matches each against England and India and lost all four, but in two of those matches we lost by a close margin. If we win one game and earn one draw, then we can create hope of progressing to the next stage,” he said.
Samiullah said Pakistan’s defensive frailties had been a major concern during the Pro League, prompting the Dutch coach to concentrate heavily on strengthening the backline.
“You know we conceded too many goals and the Dutch coach has focused on defence. He has also worked on penalty corners, while goalkeeping was another area of focus to improve,” he said.
The former Olympian believes the team’s preparations in Islamabad and the series against Korea provided valuable opportunities to identify weaknesses ahead of the World Cup.
“Players were well looked after in Islamabad and their diet was good. The series against Korea helped coaches find out the weak areas of the team,” Samiullah said.
He added that Pakistan’s early arrival would give the players sufficient time to acclimatise before their opening match against England.
Samiullah also stressed that long-term revival would require a much broader domestic talent pool.
“Without broadening the base, hockey would not progress,” he said, adding that the current PHF regime was holding events in different areas and investing in the sport.
“If we get to the top ten in two years and top eight in the following two years, then something for a dream resurrection could be thought about,” he said.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), meanwhile, said it had transferred Rs20 million to players and coaching staff before the team’s departure.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the advance payment was aimed at keeping the squad free from financial concerns so that it could concentrate fully on its World Cup campaign.
“Player and coaching staff welfare is our first priority. All necessary financial and administrative matters have been settled before the team’s departure so that the players can represent the country on the world stage without any distractions,” Wani said.
Pakistan last featured in the World Cup in 2018, when they were eliminated in the group stage. Their last World Cup triumph came in 1994, and the side has struggled to recapture the dominance that once made it the most successful team in the competition.
Pakistan will face England on August 15, Wales on August 17 and India on August 19. The top two teams from Pool D will advance to the second stage.
Pakistan qualified for the 2026 World Cup through the qualifying tournament in Egypt and will now seek to make an impact on their return to the world stage.
Pakistan squad
Waqar, Muhammad Abdullah,
Muhammad Sufyan Khan,
Moin Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana,
Abdul Hannan Shahid,
Zikriya Hayat, Arshad Liaquat
Adeel Latif, Ahmad Nadeem,
Ghazanfar Ali, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hammaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul
Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood (captain), Ali Raza, Abdul Manan, Muhammad Ammad, Goalkeepers: Waqar and Ali Raza.
Team Management: Bob Johan Veldhof (head coach),
Christopher John Bowen (assistant coach), Adnan Zakir (assistant coach), Muhammad Awais Qarni (manager),
Ashraf Sultan (video technician).