LAHORE, 06 August, 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a 20-member squad for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held jointly in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. The squad features a blend of experienced international players and emerging young talent as Pakistan prepares for its return to hockey’s premier global tournament. Waqar and Ali Raza have been named as the team’s goalkeepers.The national team’s management will be headed by manager Muhammad Owais Qarni, while Dutch coach Bob Johan Veldhof will serve as head coach. Christopher John Bowen and Adnan Zakir have been appointed assistant coaches, with Ashraf Sultan taking charge as video analyst.Pakistan have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, India and Wales, setting up a challenging group-stage campaign against some of the world’s strongest hockey nations.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani expressed confidence in the selected squad and urged hockey fans across the country to extend their full support to the national team as it aims to deliver an impressive performance at the World Cup. Pakistan secured qualification for the tournament after making a return to elite international hockey. The Green Shirts will, however, be looking to recover from a difficult FIH Pro League campaign, where they suffered defeats in all 16 matches against the world’s top-ranked teams. The national squad is expected to complete its final preparations before departing for Europe ahead of the prestigious tournament.