Pakistan plan to counter Bangladesh’s home advantage

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan embark on a crucial trip to Bangladesh to clear the first hurdle on the road to the 2026 Hockey World Cup, head coach Tahir Zaman has made it clear that the team’s top priority will be to deny Bangladesh any home advantage.

Speaking to The News ahead of the team’s departure on Saturday for the three-match World Cup qualifying series scheduled for November 13, 14, and 16, Tahir who is not accompanying the team, emphasized the importance of mental and tactical readiness.

“Whenever you play a lower-ranked team, the main effort should be to ensure they don’t exploit their home conditions,” Tahir said. “Crowd support, weather, and familiarity with the turf all work in their favor, and we are determined to neutralize those factors. That’s why we’re traveling early, to acclimatize and prepare thoroughly before the first match.” The former Olympian expressed confidence in the combination of the national side, describing it as a blend of youthful energy and experience forged through weeks of intensive training at the Bunda Hockey Ground, Islamabad.

“This team has a healthy mix of youth and experience,” Tahir noted. “The inclusion of players from the junior team’s recent campaign in Malaysia has injected fresh enthusiasm. We have the right balance to take on any challenge, and I’m confident Pakistan will clear the first hurdle with authority.”

Pakistan must win two of the three matches against Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup Qualifying Round, expected to take place in March 2026. Tahir highlighted the team’s strengths in field play and penalty corner conversion, identifying Sufyan Khan (penalty corner specialist), Hanan Shahid (attacking forward), and Ammad Butt (attacking midfielder) as pivotal to Pakistan’s success.

“We have some truly exciting players capable of breaking through any defense,” Tahir said. “But hockey is a team sport. Individual brilliance only works when backed by strong coordination and understanding. Our strategy revolves around teamwork.”

Looking ahead, Tahir said the FIH Pro League will serve as an ideal testing ground to further fine-tune combinations and strategies ahead of the World Cup qualifying stage. “A strong performance in Bangladesh will give us confidence going into the Pro League,” he added. “That exposure will be crucial for building momentum and sharpening our game before the decisive qualifying round.”