PAKISTAN CLINCH INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY SERIES WITH THRILLING 4-3 SWEEP AGAINST SOUTH KOREA AT FORTRESS ISLAMABAD AHEAD OF 2026 WORLD CUPISLAMABAD —
ISLAMABAD — In a spectacular exhibition of traditional Asian-style hockey and tactical resilience, the Pakistan National Hockey Team officially clinched their international Test series against South Korea, pulling off a breathtaking 4-3 victory in the pivotal third match at the packed Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium. Having already secured convincing identical 3-1 victories in the first two matches of the bilateral fixture, Pakistan’s high-octane triumph in this third match seals an unassailable lead in the four-match series, serving as a massive tactical injection and a critical morale booster right before the highly anticipated FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. The match played at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium witnessed a highly intense and thrilling encounter between the two regional powerhouses. For Pakistan, Zakariya Hayat, Abdul Rehman, Rana Waheed, and Hannan Shahid scored one brilliant goal each to play a frontline role in the national team’s historic triumph. For his outstanding display of skills and playmaking on the field, Zakariya Hayat was rightfully declared the Player of the Match and honored with the official award.
The defining highlight of the encounter was the host side’s absolute mastery of classic Asian-style hockey, which completely dismantled the rigid, physical structural shapes of the South Korean team. The Pakistani players put on a magnificent display of classic artistry on their home turf, mesmerizing the electric local crowd with sublime stickwork and explosive dribbling skills. The forward line repeatedly unlocked the Korean defense with superb body dodging, using clever feints and sharp turns to leave defenders completely out of position. Instead of relying on risky aerial balls, the Green Shirts dictated the entire tempo of the attacking game through lightning-fast, crisp short passes to manipulate the midfield. Crucially, the team displayed clinical composure in the final third, successfully converting high-pressure penalty corners and scoring opportunities into goals, while maintaining a highly disciplined, suffocating man-to-man marking system on defense to neutralize the visitors’ rapid counter-attacks.
The return of elite bilateral hockey to the capital transformed the Naseer Bunda Stadium into an impenetrable sports fortress, heavily powered by the profound home ground and passionate home crowd advantage. The Pakistani squad displayed an immaculate understanding of the pitch’s ball-rolling speed, bounce consistency, and spatial dimensions, allowing them to pass with absolute confidence. Meanwhile, thousands of roaring local fans packed the stands of the Islamabad Sports Complex, waving green flags and creating a deafening wall of sound that acted as an immediate adrenaline boost for the home team during exhausting shifts. Conversely, this intense, high-pressure environment noticeably disrupted the communication and structural rhythm of the visiting South Korean squad during crucial set-pieces.
The full 18-man squad representing Pakistan in this historic series victory includes goalkeepers Ali Raza and Mohammad Waqar, alongside defenders and penalty corner specialists Team Captain Abu Bakar Mehmood, Mohammad Abdullah, Sufyan Khan, and Umer Mustafa. The midfield was anchored by Moin Shakeel, Zikriya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Mohammad Hammadudin, and Mohammad Ammad, while the relentless attacking frontline featured Rana Waheed Ashraf, Abdul Rehman, Arshad Liaquat, Adeel Latif, Ahmed Nadeem, Ahmed Butt, and Mohammad Afraz, all working under the strategic coaching panel of Herman Kruis, Adnan Zakir, David Dwyer, and Bob Johan Veldhof.
Building upon this domestic triumph, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially accepted a formal invitation from the South Korea Hockey Federation for an international tour scheduled from September 8 to September 15, 2026. This vital developmental tour will take place precisely during the critical window between the FIH Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games 2026, giving the Green Shirts invaluable international match practice and intensive training sessions against a premier Asian rival. The final match schedule and logistical timelines will be released following joint consultations between both federations. Expressing his immense satisfaction, PHF President Madih-ud-Din Ahmed Wani stated that the South Korean invitation is highly welcome, emphasizing that the upcoming tour will be instrumental in keeping the national team in peak competitive form, providing world-class experience, and solidifying the sporting relations between both nations while the federation remains committed to providing elite facilities for the squad.
