Following their historic qualification for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, several star players from the Pakistan national team are heading abroad this week to compete in various international leagues. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to allow these athletes to gain high-level match experience before they regroup for the high-stakes FIH Pro League in June.
Player Destinations and Leagues
The national squad is dispersing across global hockey hubs to compete in prestigious club competitions:
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF REVIVING PAKISTAN’S OTHER SPORTS THROUGH PROPER INVESTMENT & FACILITIES. 🇵🇰
Feb 13 – Pakistan hockey team mistreated in Australia due to poor management of Pakistan.
Feb 18 – Pakistan hockey captain Ammad Butt banned for speaking truth in front of media.
Feb… pic.twitter.com/Ilap81LaBM
— Salman. (@TsMeSalman) March 6, 2026
| Players | Destination | Role/League |
| Ammad Butt (C), Moin Shakeel, Ghazanfar Ali | Hong Kong | League Tournament |
| Sufyan Khan, Ahmed Nadeem | France | French League |
| Rana Waheed Ashraf | Germany | German League (Contracted) |
| (TBC: 2-3 Players) | Australia | Australian Hockey League |
Historic World Cup Qualification
The move comes just days after a triumphant campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers held in Ismailia, Egypt.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the players of the Pakistan hockey team and appreciated them for their performance in the World Cup qualifiers. He also assured that jobs would be provided to hockey players in the CDA. pic.twitter.com/JyH2tpYdCU
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) March 11, 2026
- The Clincher: Pakistan defeated Japan 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final on March 6, 2026, to secure their spot in the World Cup.
- The Return: This marks Pakistan’s first appearance in the flagship tournament since 2018, ending an eight-year drought for the four-time world champions.
- Rewards: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a cash reward of Rs 30 million for the team (Rs 1.5 million per player) to celebrate the achievement.
FIH Pro League: The Road to Holland & Belgium
The players are expected to return to Pakistan by late May to begin a training camp for their debut in the FIH Pro League. This tournament will serve as a vital testing ground before the World Cup (August 14–30, 2026).
Pakistan’s June 2026 Schedule:
- Belgium Leg (Wavre):
- June 13 & 18 vs. Belgium
- June 14 & 20 vs. Spain
- England Leg (London):
- June 23 & 26 vs. India (The highly anticipated “Clash of the Titans”)
- June 24 & 28 vs. England
Overcoming Off-Field Challenges
The team’s success is particularly remarkable given the administrative turbulence earlier this year.
- Accommodation Crisis: During their Pro League tour in Australia (February 2024), players faced a severe accommodation crisis, leading to the resignation of PHF President Tariq Bugti.
- New Leadership: Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani recently took over as PHF President, pledging full support and “proper patronage” to the national heroes to help them regain their status as a global hockey powerhouse.
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The Training Camp
A training camp is expected to be set up at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad in May. The PHF management has emphasized that individual player development during these foreign league stints will be a “central consideration” for the final Pro League and World Cup squad selection.
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