The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a 20-member national squad for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.
The squad features a mix of experienced internationals and emerging players as Pakistan prepares to return to hockey’s premier global event.
Waqar and Ali Raza have been selected as goalkeepers. The complete squad is listed below:
Dutch coach Bob Johan Veldhof will lead the team as head coach, with Christopher John Bowen of Great Britain and Adnan Zakir serving as assistant coaches.
Muhammad Awais Qarni has been appointed team manager, while Ashraf Sultan will serve as video technician.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, who also serves as secretary of the IPC Ministry, expressed confidence in the selected players and coaching staff. He urged supporters to back the national team as it prepares for the tournament.
Pakistan qualified for the World Cup after returning to the elite level of international hockey. However, the Green Shirts will head into the competition under considerable pressure following a difficult run of results.
The national team lost all 16 matches in its recent FIH Pro League campaign and finished at the bottom of the standings. The winless run has raised concerns about Pakistan’s competitiveness ahead of the World Cup and increased scrutiny of the administration and governance of hockey in the country.
With the world’s leading teams set to compete, Pakistan faces a major challenge in progressing deep into the tournament.
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
Shares
