Pakistan kicked off their Hockey World Cup Qualifying campaign with an emphatic 8–2 victory over Bangladesh in Dhaka. Ahmad Nadeem and Afraz starred for Pakistan with two goals each, while captain Imad Butt, Ghazanfar Ali, Rana Waheed Ashraf, and Hannan Shahid added one goal apiece. For Bangladesh, Huzaifa and Ameerul Islam scored one goal each.
The series continues with the second match scheduled for November 14 and the final match on November 16.
Separately, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed that the national team will not participate in the upcoming Junior World Cup in India, set from November 28 to December 10. The decision follows security concerns and India’s perceived hostile approach toward Pakistan in sports, which was evident during the recent Asia Cup series. This follows Pakistan’s prior absence from the Asia Cup 2025, which served as a qualifier for the next year’s World Cup.
The win against Bangladesh sets a strong tone for Pakistan’s campaign in the qualifiers, keeping hopes alive for a successful World Cup berth.
