LAHORE, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufraan): Pakistan’s national hockey team returned home on Sunday after finishing 11th at the Hockey World Cup, concluding a campaign that marked the country’s return to the global tournament after an eight-year absence. The national squad arrived at Lahore airport from Amsterdam via Istanbul following the conclusion of its World Cup campaign. Pakistan had qualified for the Hockey World Cup after eight years, raising hopes that the tournament would provide valuable international exposure to a team seeking to rebuild its position in international hockey. However, the Green Shirts struggled to produce the desired results against some of the tournament’s leading teams. Pakistan suffered defeats against England and arch-rivals India, while its match against Wales ended in a draw, leaving the team in 11th position overall.

National hockey player Ammad Shakeel Butt said the World Cup had provided the squad with valuable experience but acknowledged that Pakistan could not achieve the results it had expected. He said competing at the highest international level gave the players important exposure despite the disappointment over their final position. Pakistan has a rich and celebrated history in international hockey, making its efforts to return to the sport’s top tier particularly significant for the players and supporters. The World Cup campaign provided the national side with an opportunity to test itself against leading international opposition and identify areas requiring improvement.

Pakistan forward Hannan Shahid said the experience gained from the World Cup would prove useful when the team competes at the Asian Games. He expressed hope that Pakistan would deliver stronger performances at the continental competition. The Asian Games will be particularly important for the national side as it seeks to convert its World Cup experience into improved results. Pakistan’s players will now turn their attention to assessing their performances, addressing weaknesses exposed during the global tournament and preparing for the upcoming Asian Games.