Category: Hockey

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan men’s hockey team captain Ammad Butt has called on the nation for prayers and support ahead of the FIH Nations Cup final against New Zealand, set to be played here on Saturday.

In a heartfelt video message, Ammad praised his team’s spirited semi-final performance and described their hard-fought victory over France as one to remember.

“The semi-final was memorable. And by the will of Almighty Allah, the way my team performed, I do not know in which words I should describe that,” said Butt.

The skipper took a moment to extend his congratulations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, acknowledging their support and contributions to the sport.

“I would like to congratulate Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, who contributed a lot to our success,” he added.

“And I congratulate the entire nation that stood behind us and prayed for our success.”

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With a spot in the FIH Pro League on the line, Ammad Butt made a passionate appeal to the public.

“I request the entire nation to pray for tomorrow’s match as well so that my team win the Nations Cup and dedicate this victory to Pakistan and qualify for the Pro League,” he concluded.

Pakistan booked their place in the final after edging past France 3-2 in a nerve-racking penalty shootout, following a 3-3 stalemate in regulation time.

Goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman emerged as the hero of the night, saving three crucial French attempts, while Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz converted their penalties.

For the unversed, the Pakistan hockey team qualified for the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup due to a superior goal difference compared to the host nation, Malaysia.

Malaysia secured a 2-1 victory over Japan on Wednesday; however, they were eliminated because Pakistan scored nine goals in their three matches, while Malaysia scored eight.

WATCH: Pakistan hockey player Hannan Shahid bursts into tears after reaching the Nations Cup Final

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has praised the national hockey team on reaching the final of the Nations Cup held in Malaysia. 

Naqvi praised the Green Shirts for demonstrating an outstanding performance following the nail-biting victory against France.

“Pakistani players have defeated France through teamwork to reach the final. Their brilliant performance is commendable,” Mohsin Naqvi stated.

“Along with the players, I would also like to congratulate the team management. Every player gave his best on the field,” Mohsin Naqvi added.

The PCB chair expressed optimism that the Pakistan hockey team would clinch the Nations Cup title.

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“Apart from sports, Pakistan is receiving good news from every department. Hopefully, the Pakistani hockey team will win the final as well and return home after winning the tournament,” he concluded.

It is noteworthy to mention that Pakistan defeated France in a 3-2 penalty shootout, courtesy of goals from Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the final, set to be played tomorrow.

The all-important semi-final started with both teams trying hard in the first quarter to score a goal.  France had their chances, with numerous penalty corners in the beginning and towards the end of the quarter.

The second quarter began with a similar scoreline, as France and Pakistan both battled to calm their nerves. However, France managed to score the first goal courtesy of Smenjaud Xavier’s deflection.

As France entered the third quarter, the hopes for the Green Shirts qualifying looked grim. Charlet Victor pierced the nets with a flick, giving the French team a significant lead.

However, Afraz gave Pakistan a sigh of relief after scoring the first goal. In the crucial last minutes of the quarter, the Green Shirts scored back-to-back goals, taking the lead with a score of 3-2. Sufyan Khan and Hammadudin Muhammad both scored two crucial goals in the span of a minute.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan hockey player Hannan Shahid bursts into tears after reaching nations cup Final

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan hockey team player Hannan Shahid became emotional following the Green Shirts’ qualification for the Nations Cup final here at the National Stadium on Friday.

Hannan Shahid was seen embracing Abdul Rehman in a video posted on the national team’s social media page.

Pakistan defeated France in a 3-2 penalty shootout, courtesy of goals from Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid, and Afraz. Overall, the Green Shirts have scored 12 goals in four matches.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the final, set to be played tomorrow.

The intense match started with both teams trying hard in the first quarter to score a goal.  France had their chances, with numerous penalty corners in the beginning and towards the end of the quarter.

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The second quarter began with a similar scoreline, as France and Pakistan both battled to calm their nerves. However, France managed to score the first goal courtesy of Smenjaud Xavier’s deflection.

As France entered the third quarter, the hopes for the Green Shirts qualifying looked grim. Charlet Victor pierced the nets with a flick, giving the French team a significant lead.

However, Afraz gave Pakistan a sigh of relief after scoring the first goal. In the crucial last minutes of the quarter, the Green Shirts scored back-to-back goals, taking the lead with a score of 3-2. Sufyan Khan and Hammadudin Muhammad both scored two crucial goals in the span of a minute.

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For the unversed, the Pakistan hockey team qualified for the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup due to a superior goal difference compared to the host nation, Malaysia.

Malaysia secured a 2-1 victory over Japan on Wednesday; however, they were eliminated because Pakistan scored nine goals in their three matches, while Malaysia scored eight.

On the same day, the New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3, sealing a semi-final spot.

READ: Pakistan defeat France in penalty thriller in Nations Hockey Cup semi-final

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan team defeated France on a penalty shootout in the semi-final of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup here at the National Stadium on Friday.

The thrilling match ended in a 3-2 victory for the Green Shirts, as France missed out on three chances to score in the shootout.

For Pakistan, Rana Waheed Ashraf, Hannan Shahid and Afraz scored goals to clinch a memorable win.

In the first quarter of the match, neither team managed to score a goal, despite putting in a strong effort to get the ball into the net. France had their chances, with numerous penalty corners in the beginning and towards the end of the quarter.

 

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The second quarter featured a similar situation with France and Pakistan looking to open their account in the all-important semi-final. However, France drew the first blood with Smenjaud Xavier giving his team the lead, deflecting the ball into the post.

As France entered the third quarter, the hopes for the Green Shirts qualifying looked grim. Charlet Victor pierced the nets with a flick, giving the French team a significant lead.

However, Afraz gave Pakistan a sigh of relief after scoring the first goal. In the crucial last minutes of the quarter, the Green Shirts scored back-to-back goals, taking the lead with a score of  3-2. Sufyan Khan and Hammadudin Muhammad both scored two crucial goals in the span of a minute.

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For the unversed, the Pakistan hockey team qualified for the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup due to a superior goal difference compared to the host nation, Malaysia.

Malaysia secured a 2-1 victory over Japan on Wednesday; however, they were eliminated because Pakistan scored nine goals in their three matches, while Malaysia scored eight.

On the same day, the New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3, sealing a semi-final spot.

Pakistan held a 3-1 lead for most of the third quarter, but New Zealand’s Scott Cosslett scored two goals to level the match.

The tension escalated in the final quarter as both teams aimed to secure a victory. In a decisive moment, Scott Cosslett found the back of the net again, delivering a thrilling win for New Zealand.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan began their Nations Hockey Cup campaign with a 3-3 draw against Malaysia, followed by a convincing victory over Japan.

READ: Pakistan hockey captain voices frustration amid allowance delay during Nations Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan hockey team captain Ammad Butt has publicly voiced his frustration over the lack of financial support, revealing that players have yet to receive their daily allowances despite reaching the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Cup.

The Green Shirts booked their place in the semi-finals after finishing second in Pool B and are set to face France on June 20. New Zealand and Korea will contest the other semi-final.

Speaking on behalf of his teammates, Ammad raised a heartfelt concern that mirrors the long-standing struggle of Pakistan’s national sport.

“Is there anyone who truly understands the struggles of Pakistan hockey?” Ammad questioned, drawing a stark comparison between the country’s cricket obsession and the declining fortunes of hockey.

“Do our politicians care about the national sport? Do ministers take an interest in the game that once brought Olympic gold to this country? Businessmen spend crores on cricket leagues, but when it comes to hockey, there’s no budget,” he lamented.

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According to sources close to the team, the players have been in Malaysia for over 10 days without receiving their daily allowances, which are reportedly PKR 30,000 per day.

The issue goes beyond the current tour; the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has also yet to clear payments for two recent training camps.

Players had requested partial payments before departing for Malaysia to manage basic expenses, but that plea, too, went unanswered.

“As players, our hearts ache,” Ammad Butt added. “We are still on the field, still fighting for the flag, but we cannot do it alone.”

“It is time for everyone, including the government, ministers, businesses, and citizens, to come together and revive the spirit of Pakistan Hockey before it is too late.”

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan hockey team has qualified for the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup, despite the hosts, Malaysia, emerging victorious against Japan here on Wednesday.

Malaysia secured a 2-1 win against Japan but was eliminated from the tournament due to goal difference and points with Pakistan.

The Green Shirts reached the semi-finals with nine goals while Malaysia scored eight in their three matches of the tournament.

The semi-finals of the event will take place on June 20th, with Pakistan facing France and New Zealand playing Korea.

On day three of the tournament, Malaysia dominated the game against Japan, leading with two goals till the third quarter. Sumantri Norsyafiq opened the account, scoring the opening goal in the last stage of the first quarter.

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In the second quarter, Azrai Abu Kamal fired another goal as Malaysia took a 2-0 lead with an eye on the final four spot. Japan put in a strong effort in the third quarter and earned plenty corners. However, solid Malaysian defence kept them away from the nets.

However, Yamasaki Koji dashed Malaysian hopes of qualifying for the semi-final with a goal in the penultimate half of the match.

Earlier, the New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3, sealing a semi-final spot.

Pakistan had a 3-1 lead for most of the third quarter, but New Zealand’s Scott Cosslett struck two goals, which levelled the scores.

The match became tense in the last quarter of the game as both teams sought to score a goal, but for Blackstick, it was Scott Cosslett again who scored the decisive goal, giving his team a thrilling victory.

Pakistan defeated Japan comprehensively, while the match with Malaysia ended in a draw.

READ: Nations Hockey Cup: New Zealand come from behind to down Pakistan

KUALA LUMPUR: The New Zealand hockey team came from behind in a thrilling encounter to defeat Pakistan 4-3 in the ongoing FIH Nations Cup 2025 here on Wednesday.

With three wins in three games, New Zealand secured top position in Pool B.

Pakistan had a 3-1 lead for most of the third quarter, but New Zealand’s Scott Cosslett struck two goals, which levelled the scores.

The match started with New Zealand Nic Woods scoring a goal in the first quarter; however, Pakistan fought back with Abdul Rehman scoring two vital goals, which brought his team into a dominant position.

Pakistan showed determination as New Zealand players were kept at bay for most of the second quarter. Meanwhile, Rana Waheed Ashraf struck another goal as the scorecard read 3-1.

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With this lead, the match was going Pakistan’s way, but the third quarter dashed Pakistan’s hopes of topping Pool B. New Zealand scored twice in the second-to-last quarter as the scores were level.

The match became tense in the last quarter of the game as both teams sought to score a goal, but for New Zealand, it was Scott Cosslett again who scored the decisive goal, giving his team a thrilling victory.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Japan while the match with the hosts, Malaysia, ended in a draw. With four points, the Green Shirts now have ample chance to qualify for the semi-final of the Nations Cup.

Currently, Pakistan sits in second position in pool B with four points, while Malaysia will face Japan in the upcoming encounter.

Pakistan squad for FIH Nations Cup

Ammad Butt (captain), Rana Waheed (vice captain), Muneer-ur-Rehman, Abdullah Ishtiaq, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Moeen Shakeel, Zikriya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Nadeem and Mohibullah.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakistan hockey team defeated Japan 3-2 to register their first victory in the ongoing FIH Nations Cup 2025 here on Monday.

Pakistan took the lead in the first quarter when Ghazanfar Ali unleashed an electrifying strike that found the back of the net.

However, the response from Japan was swift and decisive; just a minute later, Kazumasa Matsumoto scored the equaliser.

Koji Yamasaki then deftly snatched the lead for Japan with a stunning goal, finishing the first quarter with a compelling score of 2-1 in their favour.

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Pakistan displayed tremendous grit and resilience in the second quarter, launching a series of aggressive attacks.

Despite their relentless efforts, breaking through Japan’s formidable defence proved to be a daunting task.

However, their perseverance finally bore fruit in the early moments of the third quarter, when Rana Waheed Ashraf found the net, igniting the hopes of the Pakistani team and levelling the score at 2-2.

Pakistan hockey team did not stop there as they continued their efforts to gain an advantage in the fourth quarter, and Sufyan Khan struck the match-winning goal for them eight minutes before the final whistle.

Pakistan squad for FIH Nations Cup

Ammad Butt (captain), Rana Waheed (vice captain), Muneer-ur-Rehman, Abdullah Ishtiaq, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Moeen Shakeel, Zikriya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Nadeem and Mohibullah.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan team was held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by hosts Malaysia in their opening match of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup here at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The match ended in a draw despite the Green Shirts maintaining a lead up to the third quarter.

Pakistan gained an advantage in the first quarter, netting two goals. The early scores came from Nadeem Ahmad and Rehman Abdul, setting a strong tone for the game.

The Green Shirts showed dominance until the third quarter, preventing the hosts from reaching the goal post.

 

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Malaysia staged a comeback in the fourth quarter with Saari Fitri and Azrai Abu Kamal scoring goals. With the game evenly poised, Pakistan’s Rana Waheed Ashraf added another goal, bringing the score to 3-2 in favour of his team.

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But Malayisa fought back again as Holan Syed scored another goal in the last phase of the game, which levelled the game.

Pakistan, placed in Pool B, will now face Japan tomorrow and New Zealand on June 18.

The FIH Nations Cup format includes initial pool matches, with the top teams advancing to the semi-finals on June 20. The final and bronze medal matches are scheduled for June 21.

The tournament features eight participating teams divided into two pools for the preliminary rounds. Pool A consists of France, Korea, South Africa, and Wales, while Pool B includes Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

On the opening day, all teams will compete, and as the week progresses, the tournament will transition to classification matches and medal rounds.

For the unversed, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup is a vital opportunity for teams looking to qualify for the esteemed FIH Hockey Pro League. The champion of this tournament will gain promotion to the 2025–26 Pro League season.

Pakistan squad for Nations Cup:

Ammad Butt (captain), Rana Waheed (vice captain), Muneer-ur-Rehman, Abdullah Ishtiaq, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Moeen Shakeel, Zakrya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Nadeem and Mohibullah.

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HULUNBUIR CITY: Jugraj Singh scored the only goal to help India clinch their fifth Asian Hockey Champions Trophy title after defeating China 1-0 at the Moqi Hockey Training Base on Tuesday.

Both teams battled hard, denying any advantage to the other side, however, Jugraj Singh found the net in the dying minutes of the game to secure India’s victory.

Notably, defending champions India walked into the final unbeaten in the tournament. They defeated South Korea 4-1 in the semi-final, thanks to skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s brace.

The Men in Blue had a dream start to the knockout clash as Uttam Singh opened the scoring for them in the first quarter.

The defending champions, fuelled with momentum, continued to attack South Korea’s defences and were rewarded in the second quarter when Harmanpreet Singh doubled their lead.

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The Men in Blue were even more ruthless in the third quarter.

Just two minutes into the third quarter, midfielder Sumit Walmiki made a sensational aerial switch to Jarmanpreet Singh, who brilliantly brought it down before smashing a stunning goal to make it 3-0 for India.

South Korea responded within a minute when Yang Jihun pulled one back but his strike eventually turned out to be solitary.

Harmanpreet once again breached Korea’s defence in the dying minutes of the third quarter and restored India’s lead to three goals.

The fourth quarter remained goalless despite several attempts from both sides.

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