Pakistan finish 11th in FIH World Cup

Green-shirts down South Africa 4-3 in penalty shootout

Pakistan on Friday finished at the 11^th spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup when they downed South Africa 4-3 in penalty shootout after the 11^th to 12^th place play-off ended 4-4 in the regulation time.

At the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen Zikriya Hayat, Umar Mustafa, Hannan Shahid and Ammad Butt converted their penalty strokes while Waheed Ashraf Rana missed the fourth one. After Rana missed it former Pakistan captain Ammad Butt kept his cool and struck on the last penalty to provide a much-needed win to his team.

For South Africa Dayaan Cassiem, Davis Calvin and Mustaphaa Cassiem converted their penalty strokes while Hans Neethling and Jamie Seale missed from the spot.

This is Pakistan’s good finish in the last five World Cups of which the Green-shirts also missed the 2023 and 2014 editions.

Earlier in regulation time South Africa had a solid start when Trevor de Lora hit one in the eighth minute. Dayaan Cassiem doubled it in the 18th minute. However Pakistan fought back strongly at this stage. Afraz struck in the 21st minute before Ammad Butt netted one in the 32nd minute to level the score 2-2.

Pakistan took the lead when Waheed Ashraf Rana landed one in the 32nd minute. South Africa brought parity through Mustaphaa Cassiem in the 40th minute. Mustapha struck again in the 55th minute to put South Africa 4-3 ahead.

However Mohammad Hammadudin struck a golden goal in the final minute to level it 4-4.

Pakistan had a disastrous start in the event when they were whipped by England 4-1 in their opener. Green-shirts then held Wales to a 3-3 draw in their Group D before India whacked them 3-1 in the last game.

In the Group G classification stage Pakistan took a good defeated Japan 4-3. However they were beaten by New Zealand 4-2 in their next show.

Pakistan featured in the World Cup after eight years.

Meanwhile Wales finished at the 15^th spot when they downed Malaysia 2-1 on penalty shootout after the game ended 2-2 in regulation time at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Belgium.

Wales captain Benjamin Francis put his side ahead in the second quarter before Malaysia responded through Akhimullah Anuar in the third. Faizal Saari then gave Malaysia the lead early in the fourth quarter, but Liam Barker struck in the 53rd minute to level the contest and force a shootout.

France finished 13^th when they defeated Japan 3-1.