Training concludes, Pakistan hockey team to leave for Malaysia tomorrow

KARACHI: The Pakistan hockey team has completed its third and final training session and will depart for Malaysia on Saturday (tomorrow) to participate in the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 15 to 21.

Sources in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) revealed that in addition to the 18-member squad, two extra players will also travel with the team. As per FIH rules, teams can take two additional players on foreign tours. These players will not be part of the main squad unless an injury occurs.

Head coach Tahir Zaman told The News that the Green Shirts have completed their final phase of preparation for the Nations Cup. He said the tournament is crucial for Pakistan, as winning it would secure qualification for the FIH Pro League — one of the top international hockey competitions.

“Winning this event is our main target, as it will open the door to the Pro League, which is essential for the growth and strength of our team,” Zaman said. He added that the final training phase focused on tactical improvement and finishing. “We worked on decision-making, technical skills, and goal-scoring efficiency,” he explained.

Zaman said the team’s fitness levels have improved, and drills for drag flicks and penalty shootouts have shown promising results. “Our drag flickers and shootout players have improved their success rate,” he said, naming Sufiyan, Abdul Rehman, and Ammad Butt as the key drag flickers for the event.

He acknowledged that most teams in the tournament, except for Japan and Wales, are ranked higher than Pakistan, but expressed confidence in his players. “Our morale is high, and we believe we can beat any team,” he said.

Zaman explained that the team’s goal-scoring strategy is based on both field goals and penalty corners. “We aim to score 1–2 goals from open play and 1–2 from penalty corners in each match,” he said.

The coaching staff has also analyzed the playing styles, strengths, and weaknesses of rival teams using video footage. Before the tournament, Pakistan will play three practice matches in Malaysia. Zaman said this will help finalize their game plan. He said arriving a week early will help the players adapt to the weather and gain valuable international match experience during the three practice matches.