BeNewz
Related Articles
BeNewz Report
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially announced a 20-player national squad, accompanied by six officials, for the upcoming second round of the Pro Hockey League and the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifying matches. The team, led by captain Muhammad Imad Butt, will depart for Australia on February 2, 2026.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid and Head Coach Tahir Zaman confirmed that the same squad traveling to Australia will also represent Pakistan in the crucial World Cup qualifiers. The announcement included two key changes to the roster: goalkeepers Abdullah Ishtiaq and Manan Raza have been replaced by Ali Raza and Umair Sattar.
The full 20-player squad comprises: Muneeb ur Rehman, Ali Raza, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Abdullah, Sufyan Khan, Arbaz Ahmed, Hammad Anjum, Muaid Shakeel, Ghazanfar Ali, Zikria Liaquat, Umair Sattar, Hanan Shahid, Rana Waheed, Nadeem Ahmed, Abdul Rehman, Rana Waleed, Afraz, and Abu Bakr.
Rana Mujahid addressed one of the major concerns surrounding the national team by stating that the issue of players’ pending dues has been taken up with the government at the highest level. He assured that all outstanding payments to the players will be cleared by Friday, enabling the squad to focus entirely on preparation and performance without financial distractions.
Head Coach Tahir Zaman emphasized the significance of the tour, noting that it has been a long time since Pakistan had the opportunity to compete against top-ranked international teams. “This is a golden chance for our players to measure themselves against the best in the world,” he said. “We are approaching these matches with full seriousness and determination to deliver strong results.”
Captain Muhammad Imad Butt expressed confidence in the team’s morale and readiness. “The players are highly motivated and in good spirits,” he said. “We are eager to perform and make the nation proud. I hope the Prime Minister will continue to extend greater support to hockey — our national game — so that we can regain our lost glory on the global stage.”
According to the official schedule, Pakistan will play four high-profile matches in the Pro Hockey League second round. The Green Shirts will face Australia on February 10 and 13, followed by clashes against Germany on February 11 and 14. These fixtures are expected to be fiercely contested, providing valuable match practice ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan hockey, which has been working to rebuild its international standing after years of challenges. The dual focus on the Pro Hockey League and World Cup qualifiers underscores the PHF’s strategy to combine competitive exposure with qualification objectives.
With player dues expected to be settled shortly and the squad set to depart in a few days, all eyes will be on how the team performs against two of the world’s hockey powerhouses. A strong showing in Australia could significantly boost confidence and momentum as Pakistan aims to secure a spot in the next FIH Hockey World Cup.
