Pakistan’s stirring journey at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup came to a sobering end as New Zealand clinically dispatched them 6-2 in a pulsating final on Saturday.
The Kiwis, defending champions, asserted their dominance early, racing to a 5-0 lead by halftime — a ruthless display that left little doubt about the outcome. New Zealand’s hockey federation called the win “a statement.”
The Green Shirts created chances, found the net twice, and showed the kind of spirit not seen in years. There were moments of flair, glimpses of the old Pakistani wizardry, and a collective defiance that resisted both the scoreboard and the pressure — including what many called controversial umpiring decisions. The Pakistan Hockey Federation responded with pride: “Pakistan showed heart, hustle, and moments of brilliance… this is just the beginning of a comeback story. Heads held high — well played, Team Pakistan!”
The road to the final was a remarkable one. In the semi-final, Pakistan staged a dramatic 3-2 victory on penalties over France. Down 2-0 deep into the third quarter, they summoned a throwback performance to draw level 3-3 before edging the shootout.
Rana Waheed, named Player of the Match, captured the emotion: “We were ready for this win for a long time. We gave it everything. All thanks to Allah — we are proud and now focused on the final.”
The tournament had been a whirlwind. A 3-3 opener against hosts Malaysia was followed by a clinical 5-2 dispatching of Japan. In the group decider, Pakistan led New Zealand 3-1 but conceded three goals to lose 4-3. Still, they edged into the semi-final on goal difference — nine scored against Malaysia’s eight.
In the end, New Zealand remained superior. But the grit, improvisation, and fighting spirit on display hinted at a forgotten Pakistani legacy trying to claw its way back.
What is the FIH Hockey Nations Cup?
The FIH Hockey Nations Cup occupies the second tier of international hockey, just beneath the elite FIH Pro League — home to the world’s top nine sides. For Pakistan, once the emperors of the sport, even a runner-up finish in such a developmental competition is now considered progress.
This is not a return to the summit. It is a foothold. The Nations Cup is less a stage of glory and more a crucible for rebuilding. Consistent participation in the Pro League, World Cup, and Olympics — from which Pakistan has long been absent — remains the real barometer of elite status.
A history written in gold — and then forgotten
Throughout much of the 20th century, Pakistan ruled hockey’s global stage. Their style — graceful, improvisational, and magnetic — defined the sport. Between 1956 and 1994, Pakistan won three Olympic gold medals (1960, 1968, 1984), three silver, and two bronze. In the World Cup, they were simply unparalleled, lifting the trophy four times in the first eight editions.
But the descent has been just as dramatic. The national side failed to qualify for the 2014 and 2023 World Cups, finished last in 2010, and came 12th out of 16 in 2018.
The last time the national side stood on the Olympic podium was in 1992, when they won bronze in Barcelona. The last time they came close was in 2000, losing the third-place playoff to hosts Australia at the Sydney Olympics. The country has not seen Olympic gold since 1984.
Squandered inheritance
Pakistan’s collapse is not due to lack of talent — but of vision. Former captain Salman Akbar, now running a goalkeeping academy in The Netherlands, calls it a “legacy mismanaged.”
“Our seniors were legends, but they failed to evolve. They clung to past laurels while the game moved on. There’s no structure, no roadmap, no professionalism.”
Khwaja Junaid, midfield maestro of the 1980s and Best Player at the 1994 Champions Trophy, points to a broken talent pipeline: “School tournaments, college quotas, club hockey — all gone. The nurseries of the game have dried up.”
By the late 1990s, cricket’s commercial boom in Pakistan drew sponsors, fans, and government support. School fields were replaced by cemented courtyards. Sports quotas vanished. Private institutions, wary of liability and short on space, discarded sports altogether.
Polished talent and standout performances in hockey gradually disappeared, and the sport slipped from the nation’s collective imagination.
Structural decay and financial ruin
The sport’s slow death is as economic as it is institutional. Once supported by government departments and public-sector corporations, domestic hockey lost its financial backbone in the 2000s. Many institutions dissolved their teams, citing austerity.
An artificial turf now costs nearly $500,000 — beyond the means of a cash-starved federation. A professional stick sells for PKR 20,000 ($70). Hockey shoes for turf can cost PKR 30,000–50,000 ($107–180)
Meanwhile, the sport’s global transition to synthetic turf left Pakistan lagging. An artificial turf now costs nearly $500,000 — beyond the means of a cash-starved federation. Playing costs, too, are prohibitive. A professional stick sells for PKR 20,000 ($70). Hockey shoes for turf can cost PKR 30,000–50,000 ($107–180).
The numbers tell a bleak story
PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti has been candid. “Our annual budget is under 4 million PKR ($14,350). A single overseas tour costs around 30 million PKR ($100,000),” he revealed.
There is no professional league. No national stadium to call their own. Not even a dedicated marketing wing to court sponsors. Players have sporadic access to coaching, training, and international exposure.
Our annual budget is under 4 million PKR ($14,350). A single overseas tour costs around 30 million PKR ($100,000).” – PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti
The result? Even promising youngsters like Ashraf, who debuted in 2019, have played just 59 international matches. In contrast, Sohail Abbas — the sport’s most prolific drag-flicker — featured in 311 games over 14 years.
“If players can’t play abroad or at home, they vanish from the radar — and the system,” Bugti admits.
False dawns and fading hopes
In July 2024, PHF submitted a revival blueprint to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, their patron-in-chief. The plan included player stipends, overseas tours, and coaching development. Yet, tangible change remains elusive.
On the very day Pakistan qualified for the Nations Cup final, sports journalist Ahmad Haseeb disclosed a grim fact: the team had received no payment for the tournament, no salaries, no daily allowances — not a rupee of support.
In a sport where the elite play over 40 matches a year and enjoy world-class support systems, Pakistan’s achievements at the Nations Cup must be celebrated.
To rediscover greatness, Pakistan must build from the grassroots up, with infrastructure, integrity, and intent. Talent clearly remains.
The question is: will the system rise to meet it?
