Pakistan’s national hockey team moved a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup after beating Malaysia 5-3 in the second match of the FIH Men’s World Cup Qualifier. Pakistan secured a spot in the semi-finals. The FIH Men’s World Cup Qualifier will be played from March 1 to 7, 2026. Pakistan’s national hockey team displayed attacking prowess and sharp shooting, which brought cheers from the fans.
The gripping match saw Pakistan’s Rana Waheed Ashraf, Zakaria Hayat, Ahmed Nadeem, Sufiyan Khan, and Mohammed Ammar score a goal each. Each of the strikers displayed sharp shooting. Malaysia’s Abdul Rauf, Ahkam Ullah, and Fatri Sari also displayed good shooting by scoring goals. However, the overall performance of the Pakistani hockey players was better.
Pakistan Hockey Federation’s President Mohyuddin Wani, Ad-hoc Governance & Management Chairs Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui, Olympian Hassan Sardar, and Chief Selector Samia Ullah Khan congratulated the hockey players on the outstanding performance.
Pakistan’s game was characterized by good ball control, strategic positioning, and precise scoring inside the striking circle, with Malaysia forced to run after the game for most of the time. The crowd roared with excitement every time a goal was scored, while back home, Pakistan was gaining traction and demonstrating the quality and depth of the team.
Future Fixtures
Pakistan will face Austria in the third qualifier match on the 4th of March, 2026. Having already booked a spot in the semi-final, the Pakistan hockey team can now look forward to fine-tuning their strategies while keeping up the consistent form that will allow them to stay in the hunt for the World Cup.
Pakistan’s hockey team, with a good start and growing confidence, is sending a message that they mean business and are ready to reclaim their spot as one of the world’s best teams in men’s hockey.
