The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has confirmed the 18-player squad representing the Green Shirts at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. Selected following a national camp at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad, head coach Roelant Oltmans has built a 4-3-3 pressing lineup. Facing Pool D opponents England, Wales, and rivals India at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Pakistan aims to reach the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010.
Who is included in Pakistan's 18-player World Cup squad?
Head coach Roelant Oltmans has selected a youthful 18-player squad balancing drag-flick threat with midfield mobility:
- Goalkeepers: Abdullah Ishtiaq (32 caps), Akmal Hussain (18 caps)
- Defenders: Sufyan Khan (VC - 44 caps), Aqeel Ahmed (28 caps), Bilal Aslam (16 caps), Muhammad Hammad (22 caps)
- Midfielders: Hannan Shahid (C - 58 caps), Umar Bhutta (186 caps), Arshad Liaqat (34 caps), Rana Waheed Ashraf (40 caps)
- Forwards: Afraz (36 caps), Abdul Rehman (24 caps), Roman Khan (30 caps), Muhammad Imad (14 caps)
| Match Fixture | Date & Kickoff | PKT (Pakistan) | Required Scenario | QF Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs England | Aug 15 (17:30 CEST) | 20:30 PKT | Draw or Win required | Pool D Top 2 Finish |
| Pakistan vs Wales | Aug 17 (15:00 CEST) | 18:00 PKT | Must Win (+2 Goal Diff) | Pool D Top 2 Finish |
| Pakistan vs India | Aug 19 (18:30 CEST) | 21:30 PKT | Point required for top seed | QF Spot 6 or 7 |
How will Hannan Shahid and Sufyan Khan drive Pakistan's tactics?
Captain Hannan Shahid (58 caps) anchors midfield distribution, having recorded a 91.4% passing accuracy during the 2025 Azlan Shah Cup. Vice-captain Sufyan Khan leads drag-flick duties, having converted 11 of 28 penalty corner attempts over his last 12 international matches. Oltmans stated: "Sufyan's flick speed averaging 118 km/h gives us genuine set-piece potency against European rushers." Check match dates on our Pakistan Schedule Hub.
Where can Pakistani supporters stream the matches live?
Supporters in Pakistan can follow all matches across linear TV networks and digital platforms:
- Television Broadcast: PTV Sports and A Sports HD will air all Pakistan fixtures live.
- Digital OTT Stream: Tapmad TV holds digital mobile streaming rights across Pakistan.
- Global Fallback Stream: Viewers outside Pakistan can stream on FIH Watch.Hockey.
Review standing scenarios on our Pool D Page and track scores on Live Scores.