The Pakistan hockey team is preparing for the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands next month, with high hopes. Following a disappointing FIH Pro Tournament, the home series against South Korea has boosted their morale.
Pakistan endured a difficult FIH Pro Tournament, where the gap between them and the world’s top teams was clearly visible. The players were under pressure, and the lack of facilities also affected their performances. One of the biggest issues during the tournament was that the players did not receive adequate support from the federation. They had to manage almost everything on their own. As a result, the tournament turned out to be a disappointing campaign for Pakistan hockey.
After that, Pakistan hosted South Korea in the fourth game at Naseer Bunda Stadium, Islamabad. Pakistan had already outclassed South Korea with a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The management decided to give the U21 team an opportunity in the fourth and final game. It was a good decision to provide emerging talent with international exposure.
This time, Pakistan hockey is not facing the financial issues that affected the previous tour, where the team barely had access to basic necessities. According to reports, the Pakistan Hockey Federation has already released PKR 20 million for the daily allowance of players and coaches.
In terms of coaching, Pakistan Hockey appointed Manzoor-ul-Hassan as head coach before this series. It was a positive addition to the national team ahead of the World Cup. However, the impact of his appointment will become visible over time, as he joined only recently.
With all these positive developments, the Pakistan hockey team will travel to Belgium this weekend. Ahead of the tournament, national team goalkeeper Ali Raza said, “We are going to the World Cup with positive hopes. Pakistan fans should support us and stand behind the team.”
The national side will return to the global stage for the first time since 2018. Pakistan also remains the most successful team in Hockey World Cup history, with the highest number of World Cup titles.
