FIH Pro League Archives

Tim Brand brace helps Australia edge Pakistan in FIH Pro League

HOBART: Pakistan men’s hockey team endured another setback in their FIH Pro League 2025-26 campaign, falling 3-2 to Australia at the Tasmania Hockey Centre on Tuesday.

Australia took control early, with Tim Brand scoring in the first quarter to put the hosts ahead. Tim Brand doubled the lead in the second quarter, giving Australia a 2-0 advantage as they dominated the opening half of the match.

Pakistan mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter, with Ahmad Nadeem and Sufyan Khan netting goals within five minutes to level the scores at 2-2, raising hopes of a draw.

However, Australia clinched the victory in dramatic fashion when Blake Govers converted a penalty stroke in the dying moments, sealing a 3-2 win.

The defeat leaves the Pakistan hockey team winless in the tournament so far.

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Pakistan will look to regroup as they face Germany on February 11, before taking on Australia again on February 13 and Germany once more on February 14.

For the unversed, before arriving in Australia, the side had suffered four consecutive losses during the Argentina leg, including defeats against hosts Argentina and the Netherlands.

Their campaign began with a 5-2 loss to the defending champions, the Netherlands, followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina and a 7-3 loss in a high-scoring rematch against the Dutch.

In their final game of the first leg, Pakistan suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Argentina.

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Winless Pakistan thrashed by Argentina in FIH Pro League clash

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Pakistan men’s hockey team continued their difficult debut campaign in the FIH Pro League as they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Argentina at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club on Tuesday.

Argentina dominated proceedings from the outset, combining clinical penalty-corner execution with sharp aerial play to register a commanding victory and move to the top of the Pro League standings with 11 points.

Pakistan, meanwhile, slumped to their fourth consecutive loss and remain rooted at the bottom of the table.

Los Leones opened the scoring through Nicolas Della Torre, whose powerful drag flick from a penalty corner took a deflection off Pakistan defender Muhammad Abdullah and wrong-footed goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman.

Argentina maintained control through midfield and repeatedly exploited space behind Pakistan’s defence with long aerial balls.

One such aerial found Joaquin Toscani, who controlled well before delivering a bouncing ball into the circle for Bautista Capurro to deflect home, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Argentina struck again through Capurro in the second quarter after Maico Casella kept the pressure alive following a failed Pakistani clearance.

Casella found space and slid a pinpoint pass across the goal, allowing Capurro to tap in his second and make it 3-0.

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Pakistan showed some resistance early in the third quarter when Waheed Ashraf Rana produced a fine individual effort, driving into the circle and smashing a high shot into the net to briefly cut the deficit.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Argentina responded almost immediately.

Tadeo Marcucci released Tomas Domene with a precise pass, and although Domene’s initial backhand effort was saved, Tobias Martins reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

Domene then capped an impressive outing by earning and converting a penalty corner with a low drag flick to make it 5-1.

The final quarter remained scoreless, with Argentina comfortably seeing out the contest to claim a convincing three points. Domene was later named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game.

The defeat leaves Pakistan in ninth place, having conceded 20 goals while scoring only eight, resulting in a worrying goal difference of minus 12.

Their campaign began with a 5-2 loss to the defending champions, the Netherlands, followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina and a 7-3 loss in a high-scoring rematch against the Dutch.

Pakistan will now turn their attention to the Australia leg of the Pro League in Hobart in February, where they face a stern challenge against the hosts on February 10 and 13, followed by clashes with Germany on February 11 and 14.

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Pakistan push Argentina to limit but fall short 3–2 in Pro League clash

Pakistan produced a spirited performance but still came away empty-handed, slipping to a narrow 3–2 defeat against Argentina in their FIH Pro League fixture at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club.

In a five-goal contest that swung with momentum throughout, the hosts backed up their shoot-out win over the Netherlands a day earlier by claiming full points against a resurgent Pakistan side.

Pakistan began with impressive intent, pressing aggressively and creating clearer early openings.

Waheed Ashraf Rana forced Tomas Santiago into a sharp save from close range, before narrowly missing the far post on his second attempt.

Argentina, meanwhile, struggled to make their penalty corners count, with Tomas Domene’s backhand only catching the side netting.

The breakthrough eventually came for the hosts in the second quarter.

Thomas Habif’s incisive baseline run opened the play for Ignacio Nardolillo, who squared for Domene to finish from point-blank range, the only goal separating the sides at halftime.

The match came alive after the break, as Pakistan drew level through Muhammad Ammad, who cleverly redirected a Zikriya Hayat pass to make it 1–1.

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But Argentina responded instantly, showcasing their penalty-corner class.

Nicolas della Torre struck low to restore the lead, before Maico Casella added a second in quick succession with a powerful flick into the top of the net following a series of re-awards.

Pakistan replied with pressure of their own, earning three consecutive re-awards before Waleed Rana pounced on a rebound to trim the deficit to 3–2 just before the third-quarter whistle.

Both Pakistan and Argentina created half-chances in the final period, but the home team’s defensive discipline and earlier set-piece precision ensured the scoreline stayed intact.

Thomas Habif’s influential display earned him the Player of the Match award.

The result follows Pakistan’s 5–2 loss to defending champions Netherlands on their Pro League debut at the same venue.

The Green Shirts will meet the Dutch again on December 13, before concluding their opening Pro League stint against Argentina on December 15.

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Pakistan begin FIH Pro League campaign with Netherlands defeat

Defending champions Netherlands opened their FIH Pro League campaign with a commanding 5–2 victory over debutants Pakistan at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club in Argentina.

Pakistan stunned the Dutch early, taking the lead through a moment of brilliance from Hannan Shahid.

The young forward carved his way in from the left flank, slicing through the Dutch defence before smashing his shot past Mauritz Visser to announce Pakistan’s arrival in the competition.

But the Netherlands, seasoned campaigners and among the favourites once again, settled quickly.

A sharp tackle from Thierry Brinkman triggered their first major surge down the right, with Koen Bijen finding space upfront to level the score before the end of the first quarter.

Just moments before the break, Timo Boers made it 2–1 with a tidy penalty-corner strike, the first sign of what would become the decisive difference between the sides.

Pakistan hockey team refused to fade, and early in the second quarter, Sufyan Khan dragged his team back into the contest with a penalty-corner conversion to make it 2–2 at half-time.

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The match, though, ultimately shifted in the third quarter as the Dutch showcased their set-piece precision.

Tijmen Reyenga restored their lead with another penalty-corner finish, and Boers added his second of the match shortly after, again from a dead-ball situation.

Duco Telgenkamp then produced a sharp finish from the baseline to stretch the advantage to 5–2, completing a dominant period for the defending champions.

Reyenga’s impact on both ends of the field earned him the Player of the Match award, as the Netherlands closed out the final quarter with composure and control.

Pakistan, despite the defeat, showed glimpses of their potential and will now turn their attention to the remaining fixtures of the mini-tournament.

They face hosts Argentina on December 12, meet the Netherlands again on December 13, and wrap up their first Pro League outing against Argentina on December 15.

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Pakistan to face India in London as FIH Pro League schedule announced

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has released the official schedule for the upcoming season of the Pro League, with arch-rivals Pakistan and India clashing in June next year.

The Pakistan hockey team secured their place in the Pro League after New Zealand, winners of the 2024–25 Nations Cup, declined their spot.

As runners-up, Pakistan were extended an invitation by FIH, which they accepted following financial backing from the government.

“FIH can confirm that the Pakistan men’s hockey team, nicknamed the Green Shirts, have accepted the invitation to participate in the upcoming season of the FIH Hockey Pro League,” the federation said in a statement.

The seventh edition of the competition will feature nine teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, and Pakistan, with Ireland relegated after finishing bottom last season.

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The highlight of the season will undoubtedly be the clash between Pakistan and arch-rivals India, set to take place in London on June 23 and 26, 2026.

Pakistan will begin their campaign in Rosario, Argentina, where they face the Netherlands on December 10, followed by hosts Argentina on December 12. The Green Shirts will play 16 matches in total across four international legs.

Their second assignment takes them to Hobart, Australia, in February, where they go head-to-head with the hosts and Germany.

In June, Pakistan will feature in the European leg of the tournament with fixtures against Belgium and Spain in Wavre, before moving to London for the final round against England and India.

Pakistan’s FIH Pro League Schedule

December 2025 – Rosario, Argentina

Dec 10: Netherlands vs Pakistan (03:00)

Dec 12: Argentina vs Pakistan (03:00)

Dec 13: Pakistan vs Netherlands (03:00)

Dec 15: Argentina vs Pakistan (03:00)

February 2026 – Hobart, Australia

Feb 10: Australia vs Pakistan (11:00)

Feb 11: Pakistan vs Germany (13:30)

Feb 13: Australia vs Pakistan (11:00)

Feb 14: Germany vs Pakistan (10:00)

June 2026 – Wavre, Belgium

Jun 13: Belgium vs Pakistan (18:30)

Jun 14: Pakistan vs Spain (18:30)

Jun 19: Belgium vs Pakistan (00:00)

Jun 20: Spain vs Pakistan (18:30)

June 2026 – London, UK

Jun 23: Pakistan vs India (18:30)

Jun 24: England vs Pakistan (17:30)

Jun 26: India vs Pakistan (22:00)

Jun 27: England vs Pakistan (20:00)

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Govt allocates Rs250m for Pakistan hockey team’s FIH Pro League participation

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday sanctioned a financial assistance package of Rs250 million for the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League.

According to a letter released by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), an additional Rs 400 million has been allocated from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to provide funds to the sports federation.

From the amount released, Rs 250 million will be provided to the PHF for the expenses of the national team’s participation in the marquee event,” the letter said.

“Rs 150 million has been allocated for the organization to host the first National Youth Games, which will be held in Islamabad,” it added.

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Furthermore, the PSB has instructed the PHF to outline a plan for the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the Pro League within three days, which includes details of the travel schedule, administrative and logistical matters, and training program.

A month earlier, the Pakistan hockey team received a formal invitation from the FIH to participate in the Hockey Pro League, scheduled to take place in December this year.

The invitation followed New Zealand’s decision not to participate in the FIH Hockey Pro League due to financial constraints.

Consequently, the FIH gave PHF a deadline to inform about its decision to accept or decline the invitation.

For context, the FIH Pro League began in 2019 and is contested annually by the top nine national hockey teams, as ranked.

The team with the highest points at the end of the tournament is crowned Champion and awarded the Pro League Trophy.

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PHF seeks deadline extension for FIH Pro League participation

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has formally approached the International Hockey Federation (FIH), requesting an extension of the deadline for Pakistan’s participation in the Pro Hockey League.

The PHF Secretary, Rana Mujahid, has stated that there has been a positive response from several government ministries for Green Shirts’ participation in the marquee event.

“We have received positive signals from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the Ministry of Finance, and the Pakistan Sports Board regarding support for Pakistan’s entry into the league.

“We are hopeful that the FIH will extend the deadline for Pakistan’s participation in the Pro League,” Mujahid added.

He also thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their support of Pakistan hockey.

“I am grateful to the Interior Minister for supporting Pakistan Hockey. Mohsin Naqvi’s provision of medical and training facilities to the player is welcome,” he concluded.

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A month earlier, the Pakistan hockey team received a formal invitation from the FIH to participate in the Hockey Pro League, scheduled to take place in December this year.

The invitation followed New Zealand’s decision not to participate in the FIH Hockey Pro League due to financial constraints.

Consequently, the FIH gave PHF a deadline to inform about its decision to accept or decline the invitation.

For the unversed, the FIH Pro League began in 2019 and is contested annually by the top nine national hockey teams, as ranked.

The team with the highest points at the end of the tournament is crowned Champion and awarded the Pro League Trophy.

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Mohsin Naqvi assures full support for Pakistan hockey team’s Pro League participation

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday met national hockey team captain Ammad Butt and assured full support for the national side’s participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League.

During the meeting, Butt highlighted the key challenges surrounding the revival of hockey in the country and briefed Naqvi on the team’s preparations for the league. Discussions also touched upon player welfare and rehabilitation.

Mohsin Naqvi termed Pakistan’s qualification for the Pro Hockey League an honour and stressed that he would take a proactive role in facilitating the team’s participation.

He also announced a reward of PKR one million for each player and guaranteed swift resolution of any visa-related issues.

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Meanwhile, the PCB’s medical team has been tasked with handling players’ fitness and injury concerns, while its logistics team will provide complete operational support.

On the occasion, Ammad Butt also congratulated Mohsin Naqvi on receiving the prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz award.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Tariq Bugti had earlier disclosed that the federation had sought an extension from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to confirm the national team’s participation in the Pro League.

It is worth mentioning that last month, the FIH formally invited Pakistan to feature in the Pro League after New Zealand, despite winning the Nations Cup, pulled out of the competition.

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FIH extends PHF Pro league participation deadline: sources

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has received an extension from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to confirm the national team’s participation in the forthcoming FIH Pro League, sources confirmed on Monday.

Sources further revealed that the FIH has granted a few days’ extension to the PHF in the deadline for its request, which was due to expire tomorrow.

A crucial high-level meeting regarding the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the Pro Hockey League is expected tomorrow.

According to the sources, consultations on the Green Shirts’ inclusion in the marquee event will be held under the chairmanship of Rana Sanaullah.

The meeting will also be attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination and the Secretary of Finance.

Representatives from the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the Pakistan Sports Board will also present their proposals.

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Last month, the Pakistan hockey team received a formal invitation from the FIH to participate in the Hockey Pro League, scheduled to take place in December this year.

The invitation followed New Zealand’s decision not to participate in the FIH Hockey Pro League due to financial constraints.

Consequently, the FIH gave PHF a deadline of August 12 to inform about its decision to accept or decline the invitation.

For the unversed, the FIH Pro League began in 2019 and is contested annually by the top nine national hockey teams, as ranked.

The team with the highest points at the end of the tournament is crowned Champion and awarded the Pro League Trophy.

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Pakistan likely to get Pro League spot after New Zealand pullout

Pakistan could be in line for a return to top-tier international competition, with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) expected to offer them a spot in the upcoming Pro League following New Zealand’s withdrawal.

According to multiple media reports, Hockey New Zealand has officially pulled out of the Pro League, citing financial difficulties as the main reason.

The FIH had reportedly given New Zealand a deadline of July 21 to confirm their participation, but the Kiwis opted out before the cutoff date, informing the federation that budget cuts for the ongoing Olympic cycle had forced them to make tough calls.

This isn’t the first financial blow for New Zealand hockey; their women’s team had also been withdrawn from the Pro League earlier for similar reasons.

With New Zealand out, attention has turned to Pakistan hockey team, who finished as runners-up in the recent FIH Nations Cup and are next in line for promotion to the Pro League.

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However, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) says they have not yet received any official word from the FIH.

“We haven’t been formally informed about New Zealand’s withdrawal yet,” PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid said.

“If FIH contacts us, they are likely to give us some time to decide.”

However, Mujahid admitted that funding remains a major concern.

“Participation in the Pro League will require significant financial backing. We’ve already briefed the Government of Pakistan on the situation,” he added.

If Pakistan declines the offer due to financial or logistical constraints, France may emerge as the next potential candidate to take the vacant slot.

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