Pakistan hockey crew gamers pictured throughout Asian Champions Trophy. — Fb/@asiahockey/File
KARACHI: The Pakistan males’s hockey crew on Wednesday obtained a big increase with an invite to compete within the upcoming version of the distinguished FIH Professional League, sources confirmed on Wednesday.
In line with sources, the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH) prolonged the invitation after Nations Cup champions New Zealand withdrew from the subsequent season of the Professional League.
The Nations Cup last, held in Malaysia, noticed New Zealand defeat Pakistan 2-0 to safe the championship and initially qualify for the elite event.
Nonetheless, with New Zealand opting out on account of undisclosed causes, the FIH has now supplied their spot to Pakistan, acknowledging the crew’s runner-up end within the Nations Cup.
A proper announcement from the FIH concerning Pakistan’s inclusion is predicted within the coming days. The FIH Professional League is a high-profile worldwide competitors that includes the top-ranked hockey groups from all over the world.
It served as a important platform for groups to earn rating factors and acquire precious expertise towards world-class opponents.
Pakistan’s participation will mark a significant comeback, because the crew has not featured in latest editions of the league—one of many key components behind their slide in world rankings, the place they at the moment sit at seventeenth.
This chance is predicted to bolster the crew’s efficiency and visibility on the worldwide stage. The following version of the FIH Professional League is scheduled to start in February 2026.
For the unversed, New Zealand clinched the FIH Nations Cup title with a dominant 6-2 victory over Pakistan within the last, held on the Nationwide Hockey Stadium final week.
New Zealand began the match with intent, scoring twice early on — though each objectives had been initially disallowed. They lastly broke the impasse within the sixth minute when Scott Cosslett transformed a penalty nook.
Sam Hiha doubled the lead with a scientific area purpose within the dying seconds of the primary quarter. The second quarter noticed much more aggression from New Zealand, with Dylan Thomas including a 3rd simply two minutes in.
A minute later, Sean Findlay netted a sensational area purpose, adopted by Scott Boyde scoring the fifth with below 4 minutes left earlier than halftime.
Pakistan responded within the third quarter, with Zikriya Hayat scoring their first purpose within the fifth minute. Regardless of incomes 5 penalty corners in the identical quarter, Pakistan didn’t capitalise, preserving the rating at 5-1.
Within the last quarter, each groups maintained excessive depth. New Zealand prolonged their lead with one other penalty nook conversion by Cosslett.
Pakistan managed a second purpose by way of Sufyan Khan, who transformed a penalty nook within the subsequent minute, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to spark a comeback.
New Zealand sealed the win with a commanding 6-2 scoreline, lifting the FIH Nations Cup trophy and denying Pakistan a fairytale ending to their in any other case outstanding marketing campaign.
Atique ur rehman is a senior reporter for geo information.
